John Smith (American wrestler)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox sportsperson

John William Smith (born August 9, 1965)<ref>Template:Cite Sports-Reference</ref> is an American folkstyle and freestyle wrestler and coach. Smith was a two-time NCAA Division I national champion, and a six-time world level champion with two Olympic Championships and four World Wrestling Championships. Smith is the only American wrestler ever to win six consecutive World and Olympic championships as a competitor. At the end of his competitive career, Smith had won more World and Olympic gold medals in wrestling than any other American. Smith was widely known for his low single leg takedown,<ref>Brownlee, Shannon. (March 14, 1988). How Low Can You Get?. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 17, 2022.</ref><ref>History Of The Low Single Leg and Overlooking the Legend who Invented it – John Smith. bjjee.com. Retrieved September 23, 2022.</ref> and is considered one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers of all time.<ref>John Smith Named Greatest American Wrestler of All Time. okstate.com. Retrieved July 17, 2022.</ref><ref>Steen, Alex. (September 3, 2016). Top 10 Greatest Olympic Wrestlers of All Time - Men's Freestyle. The Open Mat. Retrieved July 17, 2022.</ref><ref>Binoy, Allan. (July 26, 2021). Top 5 American Wrestlers to Ever Compete at the Olympics. Essentially Sports. Retrieved September 23, 2022.</ref>

Wrestling career

High School

Smith wrestled at Del City High School in Del City, Oklahoma. While in high school Smith had a 105–5 record, and was a two-time Oklahoma state champion.<ref>Wojciehowski, Gene. (July 19, 1992). Wrestling With Himself : Olympic Champion John Smith Blocks Out Everything Else, Then Beats Everyone Else. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 17, 2022.</ref>

College

Smith competed collegiately at Oklahoma State University. While at Oklahoma State University, Smith's college career record was 154-7-2. At the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Smith was a three-time national finalist and a two-time national champion. After losing in the 1985 finals to future US House representative Jim Jordan, he finished his college career with 90 consecutive victories.

Senior level

Beginning in his teenage years, Smith competed internationally in freestyle wrestling. Highlights of his career include four UWW World gold medals, and two Olympic gold medals. At the Senior level, his international freestyle wrestling record was 100–5, with an overall record of 177–8.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He is the only American wrestler to ever win six consecutive World and Olympic championships as a competitor.<ref name="okstate1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Coaching career

Smith became the head wrestling coach at Oklahoma State University in 1991. During his tenure, Oklahoma State University won five NCAA Division I national team titles, with titles coming in 1994, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. As of 2022, his overall dual meet record was 490-73-6.<ref name="okstate.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He had also coached 33 NCAA Division I individual national champions, and coached his wrestlers to 152 All-American honors. Smith has brought 21 team conference titles and 129 individual conference championships to Stillwater as a coach, as well. On April 11, 2024 he announced his retirement and departure from OSU.<ref name="okstate1"/> David Taylor was appointed as his successor.

Awards and honors

Template:Div col

1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985

Template:Div col end

Other honors

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

  • The high school Smith graduated from, Del City High School in Oklahoma, named its field house after him.
  • Smith has a wrestling move named after him, the John Smith low single.

Family

Smith's older brother Lee Roy Smith and younger brother Pat Smith are NCAA Division I wrestling national champions, with Pat being the sport's first ever four-time NCAA national champion. Smith's youngest brother, Mark, was also a successful NCAA Division I wrestler, having placed in the top five nationally three times. Smith's nephews Mark Perry and Chris Perry are also NCAA Division I national champions. His son, Joe Smith, earned NCAA All-American honors twice while wrestling at Oklahoma State under his coaching.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Another nephew of Smith, J. T. Realmuto, is a Major League Baseball player.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

Bibliography

  • Dellinger, Bob & Doris. 1994. The Cowboys Ride Again. Oklahoma Bylines Inc. Template:ISBN
  • Zavoral, Nolan. 1997. A Season on the Mat. Simon & Schuster. Template:ISBN
  • Hammond, Jairus K. 2005. The History of Collegiate Wrestling. National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. Template:ISBN
  • Moffat, James V. 2007. Wrestlers At The Trials. Exit Zero Publishing. Template:ISBN
  • Parrish, Kim D. 2007. Cowboy Up. Oklahoma Heritage Association. Template:ISBN

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Sullivan Award winners Template:Footer USA Wrestling 1988 Summer Olympics Template:Olympic Champions freestyle wrestling featherweight Template:World Champions freestyle wrestling featherweight Template:Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestling coach navbox Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=John_Smith_(American_wrestler)&oldid=681022"