Just 23 seconds into Spencer Lee’s opening match at the 2024 World Olympic Qualifier, in Istanbul, Turkey, he earned a tech fall.

Lee dropped his opponent, Morocco’s Ben Tarik, to the mat for a pair of points, and rolled him around with each rotation earning the 57-kilogram wrestler another two points.

By the finale of the tournament, Lee, who will compete for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Aug. 5, had four victories.

Only one match went the distance, which Lee won 10-9 against China’s Zou Wanhao. Lee’s other bouts didn’t make it past 60 seconds.

“The goal of my wrestling is to go out there and score points and keep scoring points,” Lee said. “I score points in bunches because that makes a big difference. Coach Bill Zadick said there’s a stat that said a guy who gets one turn in a match has a 90-something win percentage.

“That’s a crazy stat and at that high of a level, 4-0 versus 2-0 is such a big difference. It makes such a big difference on their mentality during the match and effects how things go.”

Zadick, Team USA men’s wrestling coach, said what’s most impressive about Lee’s run during the qualifier was it occurred three weeks after the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in State College, Penn., on April 20.

The 50-KG wrestler earned four wins during the qualifier to determine who’d represent the United States in Paris.

But Lee still craved competition and said, “The more I compete the better I am.”

“Spencer doesn’t shy away from competition,” Zadick said. “He had to make weight three weeks prior then he had to do it again in a foreign country. It’s a high hurdle and that speaks to the quality of his readiness. We know the kid has a high IQ and he’s been able to maintain that while advancing his skill set, preparedness and experience. It makes him formidable.”

Although this will be Lee’s first Olympic Games, Zadick said, “to call him a rookie would be ridiculous.”

In college, Lee went 98-6 at Iowa and earned three national championships, winning his third title without an ACL in either knee.

“… Eight days ago I tore my ACL in my other knee. I’m wrestling with no ACLs,” Lee said during an ESPN interview after his championship win in 2021. “Whatever man. I didn’t want to tell anyone, because F excuses. Excuses are for wusses.”

Lee also worked with Team USA wrestling in 2016 prior to the Rio Olympics, observing and absorbing every detail he could.

From his teammates’ training regiment, the way they celebrated wins and how they warmed up, Lee refused to waste his time around the team.

“He’s not a rookie in any sense of that word other than it’s his first Olympics,” Zadick said. “But the guy knows how to compete when you get into those big moments. You look at everything that matters to accomplishing your goal … if he trust that all the training he’s done, all the information and experience he’s had throughout his career, he’ll do fine.”

Zadick said Lee’s mindset ahead of his first Olympics “is awesome” and he admires the spirit he’s shown throughout the process.

Lee has shown his heart and wrestling prowess on multiple levels and Zadick said he’s ready for the world to witness Lee’s excellence.

“To qualify for the Olympic Trials, you’ve spent a lot of time, energy and effort to get to that point,” Zadick said. “A kid like Spencer, he’s been on a lot of big stages. Before he went to college, he was a three-time age group world champion, not many people in history have done that. Then he dominated in college. He’s a great kid and he’s a great, smart competitor and has a high wrestling IQ. I’m excited for him and know he has a lot of fun opportunities this year.”