John Smith (wrestler)

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Medal record
John Smith (wrestler)
Men's Freestyle Wrestling
Competitor for the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold	1988 Seoul	Featherweight
Gold	1992 Barcelona	Featherweight

John William Smith (born August 9, 1965) was a successful amateur wrestler and is currently the head coach of wrestling at Oklahoma State University.

Contents 1 High school career 2 College and freestyle career 2.1 1984 2.2 1985 2.3 1986 2.4 1987 2.5 1988 2.6 1989 2.7 1990 2.8 1991 2.9 1992 3 Coaching career 4 Other honors 5 External links 6 Video Interviews

[edit] High school career

Smith grew up in a wrestling family in Del City, Oklahoma, a suburb of Oklahoma City. His high school career record is 105-5. His older brother Leroy and younger brother Pat Smith also wrestled for Del City High School as well as Oklahoma State. All three became national champions in college.

[edit] College and freestyle career

Smith's college career record is 154-7-2; his domestic freestyle record is 77-3; and his international freestyle record is 100-5.

[edit] 1984

• In Smith's freshman year of NCAA competition, he did not place at the NCAA Tournament.

[edit] 1985

• In Smith's sophomore year of NCAA competition, he was a Big Eight Runner-up and an NCAA Runner-up.
• USA Junior Freestyle Champion.
• FILA Junior World Freestyle Champion.

[edit] 1986

• Smith took a redshirt year and did not compete in NCAA competition.
• USA Senior Freestyle Champion.
• Goodwill Games Champion.

[edit] 1987

• In Smith's redshirt junior year of NCAA competition, he was a Big Eight Champion and an NCAA Champion.
• Pan American Champion.
• FILA Senior World Freestyle Champion.

[edit] 1988

• In Smith's redshirt senior year of NCAA competition, he was a Big Eight Champion and an NCAA Champion.
• USA Senior Freestyle Champion.
• Olympic Freestyle Champion.

[edit] 1989

• World Cup Champion.
• USA Senior Freestyle Champion.
• FILA Senior World Freestyle Champion.

[edit] 1990

• USA Senior Freestyle Champion.
• FILA Senior World Freestyle Champion.
• Goodwill Games Champion.

[edit] 1991

• Pan American Champion
• World Cup Champion
• USA Senior Freestyle Champion.
• FILA Senior World Freestyle Champion.

[edit] 1992

• Olympic Freestyle Champion.

[edit] Coaching career

• Smith coaches at Oklahoma State University where his teams have won five national titles and have set records for total margin of victory in the NCAA national wrestling tournament.

[edit] Other honors

• Smith was the first American to be chosen Master of Technique and Wrestler of the Year by the International Wrestling Federation (FILA).
• Smith was the first wrestler to be voted the James E. Sullivan Award as America's outstanding athlete.
• Smith was the first wrestler ever nominated for the World Trophy, which he received in 1992.
• Smith was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1997.
• His home high school (Del City High School) in Del City, Oklahoma, bears his name on the field house.

[edit] External links

• Wrestling Hall of Fame - Coach
• Wrestling Hall of Fame - Wrestler
• Biography at okstate.com
• John Smith Videos-MatDaddy.com

[edit] Video Interviews

• Flowrestling coverage of John Smith