John Smith
August 09, 1965 - Present
Over a six-year span, which started while he was still a student at Oklahoma State, John Smith was the best wrestler in the world. He now ranks alongside other Distinguished Members whose names emerge in any discussion of "the greatest American wrestler ever."
Although that distinction is arguable, Smith's career record is not. Partly because of opportunity, but primarily because of skill, it is beyond comparison. From 1986 through 1992, Smith won:
* Two Olympic gold medals. He was the first American to do so in 80 years, and both of his golds came against the world's best.
* Four World titles. No other American has won more than three.
* Six consecutive world-class championships. No other American has won more than two in a row.
* Two gold medals in the Pan American Games, in two attempts.
* Two gold medals in the Goodwill Games, in two attempts.
* Five national Freestyle championships, in five attempts.
* Two NCAA crowns and 90 consecutive collegiate victories.
He became the first wrestler to be voted the James E. Sullivan Award as America's outstanding athlete, the first American to be chosen Master of Technique and Wrestler of the Year by the International Wrestling Federation (FILA), and the first wrestler ever nominated for the World Trophy, which he received in 1992.
Smith's international record was 100-5, and his domestic freestyle record was 77-3. Combined with his collegiate totals of 154-7-2 and his high school marks of 105-5, he competed 458 times for his school, club, or country and won 436 times, for a success rate above 95 percent.
Smith retired from competition after the Olympics in Barcelona and two years later coached Oklahoma State to the NCAA team title.
One of the greatest athletes of the 20th Century, John William Smith is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Awards:
Year
1997
|
Award
Distinguished Member
|
Chapter/Region
National
|
All American Awards:
Season
1988
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Tournament
Division I
|
Weight
134
|
Place
1
|
Season
1987
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Tournament
Division I
|
Weight
134
|
Place
1
|
Season
1985
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Tournament
Division I
|
Weight
134
|
Place
2
|
College Season Records:
Season
1988
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Class
Senior
|
Bouts
47
|
Wins
47
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Falls
19
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Place
1st
|
Season
1987
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Class
Junior
|
Bouts
44
|
Wins
43
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Falls
8
|
Win PCT.
97.73
|
Place
1st
|
Season
1985
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Class
Sophomore
|
Bouts
39
|
Wins
36
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Falls
7
|
Win PCT.
92.31
|
Place
2nd
|
Season
1984
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Class
Freshman
|
Bouts
33
|
Wins
28
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
2
|
Falls
6
|
Win PCT.
84.85
|
Place
DNP
|
Season
Career
|
Bouts
163
|
Wins
154
|
Losses
7
|
Ties
2
|
Falls
40
|
Win PCT.
94.48
|
All Coaching Dual Records:
Season
2011
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
18
|
Wins
15
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
83.33
|
Season
2010
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
18
|
Wins
15
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
83.33
|
Season
2009
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
22
|
Wins
16
|
Losses
6
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
72.73
|
Season
2008
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
20
|
Wins
16
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
80
|
Season
2007
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
19
|
Wins
14
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
73.68
|
Season
2006
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
18
|
Wins
16
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
88.89
|
Season
2005
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
21
|
Wins
21
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
2004
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
19
|
Wins
17
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
89.47
|
Season
2003
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
17
|
Wins
17
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
2002
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
23
|
Wins
20
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
86.96
|
Season
2001
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
18
|
Wins
17
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
94.44
|
Season
2000
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
18
|
Wins
12
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
66.67
|
Season
1999
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
23
|
Wins
23
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
1998
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
20
|
Wins
20
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
1997
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
21
|
Wins
21
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
1996
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
19
|
Wins
15
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
78.95
|
Season
1995
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
17
|
Wins
13
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
76.47
|
Season
1994
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
14
|
Wins
13
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
92.86
|
Season
1993
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
11
|
Wins
4
|
Losses
7
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
36.36
|
Season
1992
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
7
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
Career
|
Duals
363
|
Wins
312
|
Losses
45
|
Ties
6
|
Win PCT.
85.95
|
All Rankings:
Season
1988
|
Rank Date
03/17/1988
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Season
1988
|
Rank Date
03/07/1988
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Season
1988
|
Rank Date
02/22/1988
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Season
1988
|
Rank Date
02/08/1988
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Season
1988
|
Rank Date
01/25/1988
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Season
1988
|
Rank Date
12/31/1987
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Season
1988
|
Rank Date
12/14/1987
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Season
1988
|
Rank Date
11/16/1987
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Season
1987
|
Rank Date
03/06/1987
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Season
1987
|
Rank Date
03/19/1987
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Season
1987
|
Rank Date
02/16/1987
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Season
1987
|
Rank Date
02/02/1987
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Season
1987
|
Rank Date
01/19/1987
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Season
1987
|
Rank Date
12/29/1986
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Season
1987
|
Rank Date
12/08/1986
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Season
1987
|
Rank Date
11/10/1986
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Season
1986
|
Rank Date
11/11/1985
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Season
1985
|
Rank Date
02/11/1985
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Season
1985
|
Rank Date
02/25/1985
|
Weight
134
|
Rank
1
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
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