John Smith (wrestler)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Olympic medal record | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's freestyle wrestling | |||
| Gold | 1988 Seoul | Featherweight | |
| Gold | 1992 Barcelona | Featherweight | |
John W. Smith (born August 9, 1965) is currently the head coach of wrestling at Oklahoma State University. His teams have won four national titles and have set records for total margin of victory in the NCAA national wrestling tournament.
As a wrestler, Smith won two collegiate titles while wrestling for Oklahoma State in 1987 and 1988 at 134 pounds. Internationally, Smith is regarded as one of the top Freestyle Wrestlers of all-time. He captured six straight World or Olympic Gold medals from 1987-1992 at 62kg. This feat has been duplicated by only a select few wrestlers.
Because of his accomplishments in wrestling, in 1990 he became the first wrestler to win the James E. Sullivan Award.
Smith is not particularly muscular and was not known for overpowering his opponents; rather, he relied on his speed, balance, technique, and incredible flexibility.
His home high school (Del City High School) in Del City, Oklahoma, bares his name on the fieldhouse.
