Ben Askren’s life took a dramatic turn in 2025 when a severe bout of pneumonia led him to a shocking 59-day hospital stay, culminating in a double lung transplant. As scary as that sounds, Askren describes the experience at times as feeling like a bad dream, claiming there was little he remembers. Now, as he looks to the future, he approaches 2026 with a newfound perspective, reflecting on his past and what he wants from life moving forward.
He’s feeling proud of his progress and the lessons learned, drawing inspiration from the book“Finish Empty”by Josh Metcalf. With a focus on making plans and embracing new opportunities, Askren acknowledges that family dynamics will shift—especially since he won’t be attending wrestling tournaments with his kids. But in exciting news, he’s diving into a new venture with Real American Freestyle, an organization co-founded by Hulk Hogan. It seems 2026 is gearing up to be a transformative year for Askren!
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
