Mizzou wrestling legend Ben Askren has emerged from a harrowing medical ordeal, sharing his first update after undergoing a double lung transplant following a severe bout of pneumonia that left him hospitalized for over a month. In a deeply personal 2½-minute Instagram video, Ben opens up about his near-death experience with characteristic candor and resilience.
Askren revealed that he has no memories from May 28 through July 2, relying on his wife Amy’s journal to piece together the extraordinary events of his medical crisis. With a characteristic mix of humor and vulnerability, he remarked, “I just read through my wife’s journal, and it’s like a movie. It’s ridiculous. I only died four times, where the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds. That’s not ideal, I don’t know if you guys know that,” punctuating his statement with a grin between coughs.
Despite the dramatic weight loss—dropping 50 pounds to 147 pounds, a weight he hadn’t seen since he was 15—Askren remains optimistic about his recovery. “I’m gaining quite a bit of strength, learning how to use everything again,” he said.
Askren’s collegiate career at the University of Missouri was nothing short of legendary, with 91 pins (third most in NCAA Division I history), a 153-8 record, and an incredible 87-match winning streak. He was a two-time NCAA Division I champion, winning back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007, and earning the prestigious Dan Hodge Trophy twice.
Concluding his video with raw emotion, Askren expressed profound gratitude: “I love you guys. I appreciate you guys because it’s been tough, not only on me but my whole family and my close community. I appreciate everything.”
His story is a testament to human resilience, the power of medical intervention, and the strength of the wrestling community support.