Chapman: Ben Askren epitomizes courage amid health battle

Photo: Ben Askren posted this photo to his social media on August 12 on his way home from the hospital.

Editor’s Note: This story appeared in WIN’s Volume 31 Issue 11, which printed on August 22, 2025. Click here or call 641-792-4436 to subscribe to WIN Magazine. Buy a Digital or Combo Subscription to get immediate digital access to WIN’s Volume 31 Issue 11, which features the first NCAA DI Tournament Power Index (TPI) as well as Preseason Individual Rankings. 

By Mike Chapman

This is a column about courage — the type of courage that we seldom encounter in our daily lives.

How does one define courage? The dictionary says it is the ability to control fear in a dangerous or very difficult situation.

Beyond that, I believe that courage, like beauty, often lies in the eyes of the beholder.

For thousands of wrestling and mixed martial arts fans, courage came roaring forward recently in the stunning story of Ben Askren. The manner in which Ben has faced incredible, life-threatening adversity is the epitome of courage, in my opinion.

Wrestling fans remember Ben as a dynamic and exciting star at the University of Missouri who fashioned a collegiate record of 153-8, including the last 87 wins in a row. He won the Dan Hodge Trophy in both 2006 and 2007, and the Schalles award for best pinner. Ben made the 2008 Olympic team and then moved on to a terrific career in MMA, becoming a world champion. He has stayed active in the sport he loves via podcasts and by working with his brother Max at the Askren Wrestling Academy in Hartland, Wisconsin.

But in June, the wrestling world was shocked to hear he was in serious trouble … very serious trouble. It was in early June that his wife, Amy, told via social media that Ben, now age 41, was in critical condition in a Milwaukee area hospital, suffering from severe pneumonia that grew out of a devastating staph infection.

When I heard that he was in a coma and on a ventilator and needed a double lung transplant, I was stunned. I do not know Ben very well personally but have communicated with him via email. He is one of four wrestlers that I put on the cover of my “Super Book of Wrestling History and Trivia” and he called me once to say thanks.

On June 30, Amy posted that Ben had received the double lung transplant. On July 9, Ben was in a video to describe some of the devastating events he has endured. He was in the hospital for over 50 days total, undergoing numerous tests. And he lost around 50 pounds.

 “There were multiple times where they thought I was dead, like I was dead, that’s the other side,” Askren said in an interview. “I woke up and I started as a Christian, so that’s crazy. You know I went with my wife to church for 15 years ‘cause that was part of the deal; I said ‘I’m not a Christian, but I will support you.’

“It was really weird when I woke up. I’m like, ‘I gotta do it, you know,’ so that was weird. Hopefully I use it to inspire people (who) struggle.”

On August 12, I talked to Amy briefly and found her upbeat manner to be inspirational. She met Ben when she was a senior at Missouri and knew practically nothing about wrestling at the time. They were married in 2010 and have three children, Alex, Andi an Ozi. They have all been able to visit their dad briefly in the hospital.

“It was awesome,” Amy said of Ben’s spiritual conversion. “I’ve always been a Christian, and I felt it would become a spiritual thing for him at some time.”

Amy has been touched by the tremendous outpouring of love and support from thousands and thousands. Among the many who have reached out are Olympic champions Dan Gable and Ben Peterson, MMA star Daniel Cormier, and a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Prayer Night was created by Peter Delarosa, a chaplain who lives in Washington.

Of course, both sets of parents have been there, as well.

“Ben’s mother Michele has been super helpful,” said Amy. “We’ve been sharing shifts at the hospital.”

Ben has provided several lengthy updates on his recovery following the successful surgery and praised Amy for her love and support. “My wife has been generally amazing during the entirety of our marriage, but the last two and a half months she has been out of this world, taking care of our kids and me,” he wrote.

Amy feels the same toward her husband of 15 years. “He’s doing amazing mentally,” she told me. “He’s the least patient person you’d ever meet, but he’s been very patient during all of this.”

“I have so much gratitude for everyone who’s helped out,” Ben said on one podcast. “So many people have donated money, watched our kids, donated food; a lot of friends came and hung out with me — just so much gratitude for being around me.”

B.J. Penn, another MMA legend, posted this recently: “Over the course of the last few months, Ben Askren has been the name on everyone’s lips in the world of mixed martial arts. He has been able to do some remarkable things since his big health scare, which led to him needing a double lung transplant. Despite the severity of the situation, he certainly seems to be handling things as well as he possibly can right now

“Askren has always been a warrior, and this latest battle is no different. He has been constantly providing updates for his many, many fans on social media, and it’s hard not to be inspired by what he’s doing. ‘Funky’ has never been the kind of guy who backs down from a fight, and he certainly isn’t about to start now.”

On August 13, Ben left the hospital after his second stay there and returned to his home in Delafield, close to Hartland, to continue the long road to recovery. Everyone who knows him is cheering for him and optimistic he will succeed, just like he always did on the mat.

I’m sure many of you reading this column have battled injuries and undergone tough situations. Frankly, I have had my share too, but I can’t even conceive of what Ben Askren has gone through.

So when I think of courage from now on, his image will come quickly to mind!

(Mike Chapman is the founder of WIN, the Dan Hodge Trophy, the Dan Gable Museum and the author of 33 books, 17 on wrestling. He is a member of 11 halls of fame and he and his wife Bev live in Newton, Iowa).