U.S. Olympic Medalist Kyle Snyder Breaks Silence on Prostitution Arrest

An Olympic gold medalist is addressing his arrest last week, after clips went viral from the incident on social media.

29-year-old Kyle Snyder, who won gold for the United States as a wrestler in Rio, was arrested and charged with engaging in prostitution. 

The athlete was arrested at a Quality Inn hotel in Columbus, Ohio as part of a sting operation by local law enforcement.

According to Columbus Police Sgt. Joe Albert, the city's Police and Community Together (PACT) unit was responsible for uncovering the operation. 

After police received texts and calls from a man responding to ads, a meeting was arranged at the hotel and police carried out the sting.

"I want to thank everyone who has reached out with kindness and support," Snyder said in a statement on X.

"My focus is on my relationship with the Lord Jesus and my family."

Snyder did not elaborate, but added that this incident was "not the conclusion of my journey."

Video of the arrest obtained by TMZ Sports shows Snyder being taken into custody after allegedly paying an undercover officer for sex. 

The wrestler cooperated with law enforcement throughout the encounter last week, and is currently scheduled to appear in court next week. He was released from custody on the same day as his arrest.

Snyder made history in Rio, when he became the youngest American wrestler in history to win Olympic gold at the age of 20. 

He followed that performance in the next Olympics with a silver medal in Tokyo, and he was one match away from reaching the podium last summer in Paris. In addition to his Olympic success, he's also a three-time world champion and a three-time NCAA champion from his time at Ohio State.

Snyder was recently revealed as one of the latest additions to Real American Freestyle, a new wrestling league founded by former WWE star Hulk Hogan. Other top names expected to compete include Kennedy Blades, Ben Askren, Aaron Brooks and Kyle Dake.

Real American Freestyle is set to hold its inaugural event in Cleveland on August 30, with events in Michigan and New Jersey to follow throughout the fall.