MARQUETTE, Mich. - A week out from the 2024 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on July 26, Northern Michigan Athletics highlights the fourth and final Olympian with ties to Northern Michigan. Up next is current greco-roman wrestling student-athlete, Payton Jacobson. 

The 21-year-old earned his spot on the Team USA Olympic roster in April, securing a thrilling best-of-3 victory in the 87kg weight class final as the No. 7 seed. The Elkhorn, Wisconsin native will compete in the 87kg weight class once again in Paris, with the elimination round beginning on Wednesday, August 7 at 11:30 a.m. local time/5:30 a.m. EDT. 

At the U.S. Olympic Trials, Jacobson got things going with a quarterfinal victory over Richard Carlson (MN Storm / NYAC), a 4-0 decision. He followed it up with a 6-0 decision victory over Zac Braunagel (IRTC / NYAC). A tight 1-1 decision went the way of Jacobson in the final over John Stefanowicz (USMC) to win the challenge tournament. 

With an Olympic spot on the line in the championship final against Spencer Woods (WCAP), Jacobson won by decision 8-2 in round one but fell in round two by decision 5-2, leading to a decisive third round to determine the champion. Up 3-1 with 20 seconds left, Jacobson stayed in the center and held his ground, pulling through a two-point victory to punch his ticket to Paris.

Since that unforgettable win, Jacobson has spent considerable time overseas training in Porec, Croatia, while also wrestling in a world-ranking event in Budapest, Hungary. He has also spent time at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs for training camp. Currently in Marquette, Jacobson will train against athletes from Norway, Switzerland, India, and Mexico before he departs for Paris on July 22. After the Opening Ceremony on July 26, Payton will head to Normandy the following day for more training, and return to Paris a few days ahead of his competition.