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JASON Kelce has leaped to his own defense after his controversial arm wrestling win during the Paris Olympics was challenged by Travis.
Former Philadelphia Eagles star Jason went viral during the Olympics after he took on Team USA rugby star Nicole Heavirland in an arm wrestling bout.
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Jason’s win proved controversial, however, after his left hand could be seen grasping the corner of the table, while Heavirland’s remained on the surface leading so some fans to suggest he was “cheating.”
“Holding onto something with your off hand is completely within the rules of the International Federation of Arm Wrestling,” Jason tweeted when called out by the social media producers of his and Travis’ New Heights podcast.
Now almost a month removed from the incident, upon their return to the podcast for season three, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis was keen to weigh in.
When asked by Jason how he had cheated, Travis was dumbfounded.
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“What do you mean? Everybody knows your off-hand has to be free,” he responded.
“That’s not true. Watch any arm wrestling sanctioned event, they’re off-hand grabbing,” Jason replied, once again leaving Travis stunned.
“Sanctioned event?” Travis asked.
Jason insisted that Travis was just “making this up” before imploring his brother to “pull up a legitimate arm wrestling event and show me what their off hand’s doing.”
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“Nope,” Travis said, adding, “It’s just the respect of like a bar arm wrestle that you just don’t grab anything else on the table.
“Cause now you’re torquing, you’re using [your] core and you’re using more muscles.”
But Jason wouldn’t back down, insisting he was merely “grounding himself” and wasn’t “torquing anything.”
And as it turns out, while he may maintain that the win was his, Jason actually hates arm wrestling.
Jason described arm wrestling as “lose-lose” for him, adding that it’s especially rough when you’re up up against a smaller opponent.
“Then if you win it like, ‘Oh cool, the big guy just won an arm wrestling event,'” Jason said.
‘It was a short retirement!’
Jason Kelce didn’t stay retired in the NFL for long.
The former Philadelphia Eagles lineman called it quits after the 2023 season.
But he will be part of ESPN’s coverage on Monday Night Football in 2024.
Kelce will appear on Monday Night Countdown from 6pm-8pm ET every week as well as during the halftime show.
“Turns out, it was a short retirement!” he joked.
“ESPN was a consistent presence in our household growing up and the network helped shape who I am and my love of all sports.
“To now appear on that same screen is a full circle moment.
“And, I mean it’s freaking Monday Night Football! and I’m ready for some football.”
“If you lose it’s like, ‘Hey, you just got your a** kicked by someone much smaller who should not be beating you in arm wrestling.’
“But I get challenged by an Olympian, what do I do? I can’t say no.”
Jason also admitted that he attempted to get out of the bout beforehand, playing the injury card, but to no avail.
Now with a win under his belt, Jason revealed that he’s since had “legitimate arm wrestlers challenging me.”
However, for any fans hoping to see Jason take on the world of arm wrestling in the future, they’ll have been bitterly disappointed to hear that he has absolutely no intention of giving it a try.
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