Sage Mortimer named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare

Sage Mortimer (Springville, Utah/Titan Mercury WC) has been named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week, presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare, on October 28, 2024.

At the U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania, Mortimer went 4-0 en route to a gold medal finish. It was her second trip to a World Championships after taking part in the 2019 Cadet World Championships, where she placed 12^th. Mortimer is a Senior National Team member and elected to compete in Tirana earlier this year. Her 4-0 record included a pair of technical fall victories over Khrystyna Basych of Slovakia and Laura Ganikyzy of Kazakhstan in the early rounds of the tournament.

Mortimer delivered a dramatic come-from-behind victory against three-time age-group World Champion Umi Ito of Japan in the semifinals in one of the most exciting matches of the tournament. Despite trailing early after conceding three takedowns and exposure points, Mortimer capitalized on Ito’s final turn attempt, stepping over to pin Ito with just 33 seconds remaining in the first period, overturning a 12-4 deficit.

In the finals, Senior National Team member Mortimer earned the first gold for the United States with a thrilling 7-5 victory over Individual Neutral Athlete Natalia Pudova at 50 kg. Mortimer dominated the match from the start, forcing Pudova into a fleeing call within the first 10 seconds and quickly adding a takedown. She pulled a set of exposure points from a spladle, something rarely seen in freestyle, and took a six-point lead to the break. She put it on cruise control in the second period to finish the job.

Mortimer’s gold medal win secured 25 team points for the United States, helping them to the first-ever U23 World team title. Prior to this year, the U.S. had never won a U23 World team title in women’s freestyle. Its previous high finish was 2022 where it came in second to Japan. Japan had won every U23 Worlds dating back to the first edition in 2017, except 2021, where it didn’t send a team. Ukraine is the only other nation outside of Japan, and now the U.S., to win this event in Women’s freestyle.

To nominate a wrestler for this honor please email the athlete's name, wrestling program, weekly accomplishments, and career accolades to communications@usawrestling.org