Olympic wrestling champion Helen Maroulis is taking her competitive spirit to a new arena – Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. After an unexpected injury forced her to step back from wrestling, Maroulis discovered a passionate new pursuit that’s quickly becoming more than just a temporary distraction.
“I got obsessed with it,” Maroulis says about her introduction to Jiu-Jitsu. What began as a recommended alternative to wrestling has transformed into a full-blown commitment, with the athlete training daily and preparing for her blue belt debut at the IBJJF No-Gi World Championships.
“Yeah, so it’s been an interesting journey after the Olympics. I was taking some time off, and then I got a bit of an injury. They told me I couldn’t wrestle, couldn’t dance. And I said, well, what can I do? And they said, you could try Jiu-Jitsu.”
“I’ve been going every day since. Then I came out here to New York City for an event last week for USA Wrestling. I came and trained at Unity, and I just really loved it.”
Transitioning from wrestling to Jiu-Jitsu hasn’t been without challenges. Maroulis admits she initially felt like an “ogre,” attempting to force her wrestling techniques into a more fluid martial art. However, she’s embracing the technical nuance of Jiu-Jitsu, which she describes as “combat yoga” – a discipline requiring more flow and strategic movement.
“What I love about combat sports in general is just like the art and the chess game and the mastery of moves. So I love learning moves. And this is really fun in Jiu-Jitsu.”
Unity Jiu-Jitsu in New York has become her training home, with Maroulis praising the gym’s community-driven culture. “I want to be around good people,” she explained to flograppling, highlighting the importance of a positive training environment.
Beyond the immediate competition, Maroulis sees long-term potential in Jiu-Jitsu. She appreciates the sport’s accessibility and lower physical toll compared to wrestling, noting she can train more consistently and maintain a balanced lifestyle.
