Mya Lesnar steps out of father Brock’s shadow, targets Olympic glory

Wrestling fans might soon hear the name Lesnar again. But for those expecting the return of Brock Lesnar, guess again.

In a recent feature by 9News in Denver, Mya Lesnar expressed her determination to represent the United States at this year’s Olympics, saying, “We have a really good chance because, honestly, anything can happen. Our next goal is to make the team. Four years is a long time, so we have nothing to lose by trying to make this team.”

Over the past year, Mya emerged as a standout track and field athlete at Colorado State University. In March, she made history as CSU’s first women’s indoor track and field national champion, winning the shot put title at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championships in Boston.

By achieving this, Mya joined her father as the family’s second NCAA Champion. In 2000, Brock won the NCAA Division I heavyweight wrestling championship during his senior year at the University of Minnesota. However, Mya is determined to forge her own identity, distinct from her famous father’s legacy.

“I’ve been in his shadow for so many years, which is cool, I guess,” Mya said. “But at the end of the day, he’s just dad to me. I don’t see him as a superstar, just someone in my corner. Now, I’m kind of in the spotlight with him in my shadow, watching me. I think that’s super cool.”

Mya will compete in the U.S. Olympic trials for women’s shot put this week, with preliminaries on June 28 and finals on June 29 if she qualifies. The 2024 Summer Olympics will be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024, primarily in Paris, France.