A silver medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2016 Olympics, Madsen recently announced his retirement from mixed martial arts through Danish outlet Ekstra Bladet.
“The time is right,” Madsen said. “…The sport has shaped me as a person, and I am grateful for everything it has given me and my family.”
Madsen made his professional MMA debut in September 2013 and was victorious in his first 12 bouts. This included four UFC appearances, where he secured victories against the likes of Vinc Pichel, Clay Guida, Austin Hubbard and Danilo Belluardo. He ended his career with back-to-back losses against Grant Dawson and Jared Gordon, where he was finished in both outings. His last fight, against Gordon, came at UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden this past November.
“A large part of your identity lies in the job,” Madsen said. “Especially as an elite athlete, where the structure of everyday life is often dictated by your job. But I am 39 years old, and there are still many things in life I want to achieve.”