COLUMBUS, Ohio — Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder, 29, was arrested during a prostitution sting operation in Columbus, Ohio, according to local authorities.
Snyder, a former wrestler for Ohio State University and a member of President Donald Trump’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, was one of 16 men charged during an undercover operation conducted Friday, Columbus police Sgt. Joe Albert told The Columbus Dispatch.
Police said the operation involved placing fake online advertisements for escort services. Snyder responded to one of the ads and arranged a meeting at a nearby hotel. Once there, he gave money to an undercover officer and requested oral sex, Sgt. Albert said.
He was arrested at the scene for engaging in prostitution and later released. Authorities confirmed that 15 other men were also charged as part of the same sting.
Snyder is known for his decorated wrestling career. He won three consecutive NCAA heavyweight championships at Ohio State and earned a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He also won a silver medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and placed fourth in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In 2018, President Trump nominated Snyder to serve on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. At the time, Snyder expressed his excitement in a tweet, writing, “Honored to be selected by @POTUS to work with @fitnessgov on increasing youth participation in sports.”
Just last week, Snyder announced he had signed with the Real American Freestyle wrestling league, a new organization launched by wrestling legend Hulk Hogan. The league’s first event is scheduled to take place in Cleveland on August 30.
Snyder is scheduled to appear in court on May 19.
