Ben Askren, the two-time NCAA champion and Olympian, is making one of the most unbelievable comebacks in sports, battling Belal Muhammad on July 18 at Real American Freestyle Wrestling 11. What makes it truly wild? This return comes about a year after he nearly died from necrotizing pneumonia, requiring a double lung transplant, and now he's revealed he believes he might be on the autism spectrum.
The Personal Read: What His Wife Saw
Askren's journey of self-discovery started years ago with his wife. She pointed out that he matched almost every marker on a list of Asperger's traits. He checked off nine out of ten, he said, and that stuck with him. While he's never been formally diagnosed and was careful to state that, he frames it as self-knowledge, not just a label. He's openly shared that he thinks "all human beings are a little bit different," and this personal realization has been incredibly refreshing to hear. Asperger's, as a standalone diagnosis, was folded into autism spectrum disorder in the DSM-5 years ago, making his account a personal read rather than a clinical one.Unorthodox Style: How It Shaped a Champion
He connects these traits directly to how he absolutely dominated in wrestling. Askren believes many high-level performers likely sit somewhere on the spectrum, pointing to things like intense focus, an incredible tolerance for endless repetition, and a habit of just tuning out what everyone else thinks. That last part, he said, is exactly why his wrestling style looked like nobody else's. He completely ignored conventional wisdom, built something unorthodox, and rode it all the way to two NCAA titles and the 2008 Olympics. He's honest, too, admitting that the same wiring that helps him problem-solve quickly can make him blunt with people, something his wife flagged and he actively works on. Askren's candor truly resonates. He's talking about self-acceptance, about acknowledging who you are instead of hiding it, and saying people would be better off being honest about their struggles rather than trying to sell some perfect image. What an absolute legend. Catch him back in action on his 42nd birthday, July 18, facing Belal Muhammad in Milwaukee. It's a return that just screams courage, and you know everyone will be watching.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.