Olympic champion, ex-Ohio State wrestler Kyle Snyder arrested in prostitution sting

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Two-time Olympic medalist and former Ohio State Buckeyes wrestler Kyle Snyder was arrested by police during a prostitution sting.

Columbus police confirmed to NBC4 that Snyder, 29, was arrested Friday on the city's north side and charged with engaging in prostitution. He was released from the scene and is scheduled to appear in court on May 19.

CPD's Police and Community Together unit conducted a sting Friday. Internet ads for escorts were published by the unit and texts were received at around 8:15 p.m. from over a dozen men, including Snyder according to police.

Just before 8:40 p.m., police said Snyder met an undercover officer at a hotel and paid them in cash to perform sexual acts. He was arrested by uniformed officers inside the hotel room and was one of 16 men charged during the sting operation.

A Maryland native, Snyder is one of the most successful wrestlers in American history. As a Buckeye, he completed a historic 2016 sweep of the NCAA, world, and Olympic championships before returning to Ohio State and defending his NCAA title in 2017.

He was unable to defend his gold in the 97 kilogram freestyle weight class from the Rio 2016 games in Tokyo in 2021, losing in the final and taking home a silver medal. In his third Olympics last year in Paris, he fell short of a bronze medal after losing to Iranian Amir Ali Azarpira in a bronze medal match.