COLORADO SPRINGS — Kyle Snyder’s aura radiated through the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum as he spoke with the press.

Snyder’s glow in early July wasn’t arrogant or overconfident but measured and composed regarding the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The Coronado High School grad and 97-kilogram Team USA freestyle competitor could become the fourth American to win a pair of wrestling gold medals when competition begins Aug. 5.

Regardless of the outcome, Snyder understands he can’t fail.

“I don’t think about (the two gold medals) a whole lot. I want to wrestle the way God wants me to wrestle and be faithful to Him and honor Him,” Snyder said. “That’s my focus. It’s a blessing to be in this position to compete and every tournament I’m in I expect to win. That’s what I feel my ability is and the talent that God has given me.”

Snyder landed at Coronado after building a 179-0 record and earning three state titles for Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Md.

During his prep wrestling career, Snyder also allowed just one takedown.

“People make analogies about talent versus athleticism versus work ethic,” said Bill Zadick, the Team USA men’s wrestling coach. “It boils down to discipline and doing the things that you need to do when you don’t want to do them. Kyle’s been great at that his entire career.”

Snyder, who ranked No. 1 most of his preps wrestling career, never competed for the Cougars as he omitted his senior year to train in Colorado Springs as a resident athlete at the Olympic Center.

“In high school, I was wrestling teenagers, but I was wrestling with grown men here,” Snyder said. “Guys who had already graduated college, NCAA champions and national team members. It’s a different feel hand fighting with those guys and finishing your leg attacks, setting things up and even being able to wrestle a full match was exhausting.”

While Snyder spoke about his teammates’ accomplishments during media day at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, he could have his own section at the facility.

In three years at Ohio State, Snyder earned three national championships at heavyweight and finished his career 75-5 for the Buckeyes.

So far in his post-collegiate career, Snyder is 183-17 and has amassed 42 medals including 30 golds.

The gold Snyder earned in 2016 — while at Ohio State — during the Rio de Janeiro Games in Brazil solidified Snyder as a bonafide phenom.

Snyder earned a 2-1 decision win against Azerbaijan’s Khetag Gazyumov in the finals and became the youngest American Olympic wrestler to earn a gold medal.

The victory also gave Snyder wrestling’s triple crown: an NCAA title, World and Olympic gold medals. At the time, Snyder was the 12th wrestler to earn the accomplishment.

After his 97-KG finals match against Gazyumov, Snyder released his opponent and dropped to his knees, overcome with emotion.

“Kyle makes the ordinary extraordinary,” Zadick said. “He does the right thing every day and so regularly that his consistency and his ability are almost impossible to match. The difference between better and best is what elevates guys like Kyle to reach the heights and successes that he’s seen on the mat.”

Since 2020, Snyder has just four losses in more than 80 matches. Two of those came in 2021 to Russian Abdulrashid Sadulaev, who outscored Snyder 12-3 in their bouts.

Snyder’s last loss occurred during the 2023 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, when Bahrain’s Akhmed Tazhudinov earned an 11-0 tech fall, the lone tech fall loss of Snyder’s career.

While Sadulaev was ruled ineligible for the Olympics by the Olympic committee due to his support of the Ukraine-Russia war, Snyder will likely face Tazhudinov.

But Snyder isn’t concerned.

“I love competing and I want to wrestle the best guys. That’s what’s fun to me,” Snyder said. “That’s what I’m looking forward to doing. I’m motivated by doing everything to please God. That’s enough motivation for me. I don’t need a loss to keep me motivated and hungry.”

Zadick said Snyder’s ability to be present and remain even-keeled after a win or loss is what makes him such a puzzle for opponents.

He believes it’s what will propel Snyder to another echelon this year.

“He makes great adjustments. He’s been doing that diligently and I’ve seen his mind engage differently than I have in a while,” Zadick said. “He continues to expand his knowledge base and continues to analyze what he wants to do and how he goes about doing it. I’m always very encouraged by the adjustments he makes.”