After being off the mat since 2016, Olympic gold medalist Jake Varner is returning to action in the 125kg division at the 2018 U.S. Open this week in Las Vegas.

Varner's last match came at the 2016 World Cup where he wrestled at 125kg despite weighing in at 97kg. Since then he has been in the assistant coaching chair for national champion Penn State. 

Also in the last year, he finished second at the U.S. Olympic Trials and Yarygin. Before stepping away from competition, Varner manned the 97kg spot for Team USA, winning the U.S. Open twice. 

Watch Varner take out Wynn Michalak to win the 2014 U.S. Open: