Olympic wrestler Kyle Snyder arrested in prostitution sting in Columbus

Kyle Snyder, a two-time Olympic medalist and former Ohio State wrestling standout, was arrested on Friday during a prostitution sting operation carried out by the Columbus Police Department. The 29-year-old athlete was taken into custody on the city’s north side and faces a charge of engaging in prostitution. Authorities confirmed he was released at the scene and is expected to appear in court on May 19.

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The sting operation was led by the Police and Community Together (PACT) unit, which posted online advertisements posing as escort services. Police reported that Snyder was among over a dozen individuals who responded via text messages around 8:15 p.m. Later that evening, at approximately 8:40 PM, Snyder allegedly arrived at a hotel, where he met an undercover officer and paid cash for sexual services. He was then arrested by police waiting nearby. Snyder was one of 16 men charged in the operation.

Snyder, originally from Maryland, has been a dominant figure in American wrestling. In 2016, he made history by winning the NCAA, World, and Olympic titles in the same year. He successfully defended his NCAA championship in 2017. Although he earned silver in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, he missed out on a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, losing the bronze match to Iranian wrestler Amir Ali Azarpira.