Kurt Angle: Former WWE Star Smart to Give Up Olympic Dreams

Kurt Angle has built a reputation in the professional wresting world as one of the craziest people you would ever meet. He tried to live up to that title by working out to make the United States Olympic wrestling team, but, sadly, injuries forced him to put a halt to that. 

Angle, who won an Olympic gold medal in 1996 before going to WWE and subsequently TNA, broke the news on Thursday via Twitter with a series of posts about why he had to quit:

"

Due to Hamstring@Knee Injuries, I'm forced to Pull Out of trials.Had a talk W/ Usa Wrestling Coach Zeke Jones Who has Supported Me all Year

"

"— Kurt Angle (@RealKurtAngle) April 12, 2012"

"

TNA Has Supported My Olympic Dream Since the Day I Approached Dixie Carter about My Quest for Gold! Thank You. I injured My MCL in My Knee

"

"— Kurt Angle (@RealKurtAngle) April 12, 2012"

As cold as it might be to say this, Angle's injury was the best thing that could have happened to him. He is a proud athlete who wants to be the best at everything he does. That is why he does some insane things in a wrestling ring, despite having a body that is rapidly breaking down. 

At 43 years old, there was little chance that Angle would have been able to compete with the younger, more athletic wrestlers he would have been going up against in the Olympic trials. 

Losing would not have done irreparable damage to his reputation or standing in the professional wrestling community, but it would have shown just how far he has fallen in the 16 years since winning a gold medal. 

Angle honestly believed that he had a chance to make the team, which is why he set out to do this in the first place. But anyone with even the slightest bit of awareness could have told him that it was not going to end well. 

Fortunately, Angle didn't have to put himself in a position to fail thanks to a knee injury. He would have given it his all if he had the opportunity to make the team, but now he can relax and focus on doing what he does best: entertain TNA fans at the company's biggest event of the year on Sunday night. 

Check back for more on the WWE as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s Wrestling Page to get your fill of the WWE. For more WWE talk, check out Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics you just can’t miss.

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