ITHACA, N.Y. (APS) — Three Cornell University wrestlers, Vito Arujau, Meyer Shapiro, and 2023 graduate Yianni Diakomihalis, are on the cusp of realizing their lifelong dreams of representing the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics. They will be competing at the Olympic trials held at Penn State University on April 19th and 20th.
Vito Arujau, a senior and two-time NCAA champion at 133 pounds, recently secured his second consecutive title by defeating top-ranked Daton Fix in the finals. Arujau’s passion for wrestling stems from his father, Vougar Oroudjov, who competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, earning a bronze medal in 1992’s Barcelona Olympics. Despite initially being reluctant to take up wrestling, Arujau gradually embraced the sport and acknowledged its significance in his life.
On the other hand, freshman Meyer Shapiro arrived at Cornell last fall with a remarkable achievement under his belt: the U20 World title at 154 pounds, which he clinched in August 2023. Shapiro expressed his excitement about participating in his first Olympic trials at the age of 19, emphasizing the significance of achieving his childhood dreams.
Both Arujau and Diakomihalis have previous experience competing in the Olympic trials. They participated in the 2021 trials after the 2020 Games were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Arujau secured second place in his weight class, while Diakomihalis finished fourth. Diakomihalis, a four-time NCAA champion, has dedicated the past year to training diligently for the upcoming Olympics in Paris.
Reflecting on his journey, Diakomihalis expressed confidence in his abilities and readiness for the trials, citing victories against Olympic medalists and world champions in the past. He acknowledged that success ultimately depends on the performance on any given day but affirmed his skills, mentality, and preparedness for the challenge ahead.