“In every single fight that you compete in, everything is always at stake.” Henry Cejudo said it himself, and his life has been proof of that. From Olympic gold to UFC glory, his journey has been anything but predictable. But did you know he lost his gold medal in a wildfire? Or that his family nearly got kicked out of the arena for celebrating too hard? ‘Triple C’ wasn’t just an underdog, he was a long shot. Standing at 5’4”, no one expected the verbose American to cement his legacy as one of the very best to ever do it.In 2008, at just 21, he became the then-youngest (record broken by Kyle Snyder aged 20 in 2016) U.S. Olympic wrestling champion, despite finishing 31st in the world the year before. After taking a break, losing at the 2012 Olympic trials, and retiring, he reinvented himself in MMA. Six years later, he was a two-division UFC champion. Now, as he gears up for UFC Fight Night 252 against Song Yadong, let’s break down some of the wildest moments from his past!1. The celebration that nearly went too farYou’d think winning an Olympic gold medal would be a moment of pure celebration, right? Well, for Cejudo’s family, it almost turned into an eviction notice. As he secured victory over Japan’s Tomohiro Matsunaga in the 121lbs (55kg) category, his family erupted so loudly that security had to step in.May 4, 2023, Newark, NJ, NEWARK, NJ, United States: Newark NJ – May 4: Henry Cejudo speaks to the press and the fans at UFC288 – Sterling vs Cejudo – press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz at Prudential Center on May 4, 2023 in Newark, NJ Newark, NJ United States – ZUMAp175 20230504_zsa_p175_014 Copyright: xLouisxGrassexThey were one warning away from being tossed out of the venue. But nothing was stopping them that night. In a full-circle moment, a family member hurled an American flag onto the mat with pinpoint accuracy, and the former double champ wrapped himself in it, fully embracing his victory.2. A ringside seat was never an option for his momMost Olympic moms are front and center in the stands, right? Not Nelly Rico. And it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Cejudo’s mother is as much of a legend as her Olympic-winning son is. A single mother to 7 children, Rico put in her all working odd jobs to support her family in the absence of Cejudo’s father.However, Rico didn’t like the idea of flying and while her son made history, she witnessed the iconic moment at their home in Colorado Springs, glued to a laptop screen. And let’s just say, she wasn’t handling the tension well. “She vomited three times, one for each period Henry lost leading up to the finals,” Cejudo later revealed.Moreover, the future UFC double champ also talked about all the times they moved, from Los Angeles to New Mexico to Phoenix to Colorado Springs, each time in search of a better life. “I wish I could just give her the medal right now,” ‘Triple C’ said. Watching him reach the pinnacle of his sport? Overwhelming, to say the least.3. The toughest rival was his own brotherBefore Henry was the golden boy, Angel Cejudo was the family’s wrestling prodigy. A four-time state champion with a flawless 150-0 record, Angel was the one Henry chased. When he went to Colorado Springs, Henry, as always, tagged along. When ‘Triple C’ won more matches, and more tournaments, and broke more barriers, Angel became his toughest critic and best friend. “If it should have been me, I would have been out there,” Angel said. “I’m not jealous. I’m proud.”It is natural that when Henry wrapped himself with the American flag after his Olympics glory, Angel watched from the stands in tears. A testament to their bond is that instead of resentment, Cejudo’s brother was always right by his side.4. Why college couldn’t compete with the Olympics?While most kids were stressing over prom and SAT scores, Cejudo had bigger plans. Instead of wrestling in college, Cejudo moved to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, training alongside world-class wrestlers. His coach, Kevin Jackson, called him “the present and the future,” and convinced him that he had multiple Olympic cycles ahead. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stark Media (@starkmediapro)Moreover, at the 2012 US Olympic Team Trials, Cejudo downed Obe Blanc before being defeated by the top-seed Nick Simmons, failing to make his second US Olympic Team. After the Simmons match, Cejudo put his shoes in the middle of the mat, signaling his retirement from the sport. But Cejudo had wasn’t done! His plans to enter MMA gradually took shape. And what happened by the time he announced his first retirement from the sport is a testament to his illustrious combat sports career. However, the most interesting tale about ‘Triple C’ remains untapped. Let’s see!5. The mystery of Cejudo’s lost gold medalYou’d think an Olympic gold medal would be kept in a vault somewhere, right? Not Triple C’s. In 2017, he lost it in the most dramatic way possible, escaping a California wildfire. At 4:30 a.m., he jumped out of a hotel’s second floor to safety, leaving the medal behind. Ten months later, he accepted it was gone. “Gold melts. Metal melts. Everything disintegrates,” he said. While he could have requested a replica, he never officially did. And here’s the kicker, he’s been seen wearing medals in post-fight celebrations. But which ones? One looks like his original, the other has markings from the 1972 Munich Games. The mystery remains.Henry Cejudo’s Olympic journey wasn’t just about winning, it was about proving that no obstacle was too great. From a chaotic childhood to an improbable gold medal, his story continues to inspire athletes and dreamers alike. So, what do you think? Does his journey make him the ultimate underdog, or just the king of unexpected comebacks?The post Henry Cejudo Lost His Olympic Gold Medal to a Fire & Other Lesser Known Facts About the Former UFC Champ’s Journey appeared first on EssentiallySports.