It's official: Olympic bronze medalist J'Den Cox will be wrestling at the 2017 World Team Trials in Lincoln, Nebraska. The three-time NCAA champ sits in the best-of-three finals LIVE on Flo on June 10th.

There was some doubt about whether or not he would make a run at his first world team, as he expressed some interest in playing football for Missouri. As recently as two weeks ago on the JoeFlo & Bader Show, Cox said he was unsure if he would be wrestling at the trials.

I was still on the fence about it, where things were going, and I was just making sure whatever was going to happen was best for me and any program I went to. 

Now that Cox is wrestling, that means David Taylor will have to go through the challenge tournament. Taylor, who went to Rio to be J'Den's training partner for the Olympics, rolled through the U.S. Open last weekend. He won OW after pinning his first opponent and then teching his next four opponents, including a 10-0 win over Richard Perry in the finals. 

J'Den said Taylor's recent run of success did not factor in to his decision to wrestle.

I don't focus on nobody, he's not on my mind. I will say I'm happy that he's doing great. I got to know him last summer, and it's awesome to see him prospering and doing well for himself. But I don't watch film for a reason, my mindset is only on me.

On his way to being our Olympian last year, Cox and Taylor did not meet. Along with Kyle Dake wrestling Jordan Burroughs two or three more times, this is one of the most highly anticipated finals series for WTT. 

NEWS: @SuperstarW14T Named Volunteer Assistant Coach

[https://t.co/mVQxRhgvSG]#MIZ #TigerStyle pic.twitter.com/QaQu6CuZ3h

— #TigerStyle (@MizzouWrestling) May 4, 2017

Additionally, Cox will be the volunteer assistant for Mizzou next year. He doesn't think this will negatively impact his wrestling, in large part because his individual competition goals aren't changing and he is staying in a familiar environment.

It helps that I have such a great support base here, from my family to coach Mike Eierman and Eierman Elite. I get to experience wrestling in a new light, learning under Coach Smith, who has been at a big-time program for 20 years, as well as Coach Clemsen and the rest of our staff.

The Columbia, Missouri native mentioned that the new seeding system for the world championships was not something that affected his decision to continue wrestling instead of playing football. For J'Den, it's all about having fun, and coaching allows him to try something new and exciting while still allowing him to strive for his personal goals.