No matter the outcome on the mat, the flame on Tervel Dlagnev’s competitive career in wrestling will extinguish this month at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Dlagnev left Columbus, where he has lived and trained since 2008, on Tuesday for Brazil and a second and final chance at Olympic glory as a humble, proud heavyweight for the United States. Rio will be the last tournament for Dlagnev, who finished fifth at the 2012 London Games. He’s 30, a year removed from back surgery, and next month he’ll become an assistant coach for Ohio State.
“I’m getting to the older side of being a wrestler,” Dlagnev said.