John Smith (American wrestler)

This article is about the American Olympic wrestler. For the Zambian wrestler, see John Smith (Zambian wrestler). For the American professional wrestler, see J.T. Smith (wrestler).

John William Smith (born August 9, 1965)^[1] 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,^[2][3] and is considered one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers of all time.^[4][5][6]

John Smith

Personal information
Full name	John William Smith
Born	August 9, 1965 (1965-08-09) (age 59) Del City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Height	5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight	62 kg (137 lb)
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Wrestling
Weight class	62 kg
Event(s)	Freestyle and Folkstyle
College team	Oklahoma State
Club	Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Team	USA
Medal record Men's freestyle wrestling Representing the  United States Olympic Games 1988 Seoul 62 kg 1992 Barcelona 62 kg World Championships 1987 Clermont-Ferrand 62 kg 1989 Martigny 62 kg 1990 Tokyo 62 kg 1991 Varna 62 kg Goodwill Games 1986 Moscow 62 kg 1990 Seattle 62 kg Pan American Games 1987 Indianapolis 62 kg 1991 Havana 62 kg Collegiate Wrestling Representing the Oklahoma State Cowboys NCAA Division I Championships 1987 College Park 134 lb 1988 Ames 134 lb 1985 Oklahoma City 134 lb Big 8 Championships 1985 Norman 134 lb 1987 Stillwater 134 lb 1988 Norman 134 lb 1984 Stillwater 126 lb

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.^[7]

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.^[8] He is the only American wrestler to ever win six consecutive World and Olympic championships as a competitor.^[9]

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.^[10] 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.^[9] David Taylor was appointed as his successor.

Awards and honors

1992

• Summer Olympics

1991

• World Wrestling Championships
• Pan American Games
• Pan American Championships

1990

• World Wrestling Championships
• 1990 Goodwill Games wrestling tournament
• Grand Masters of Olympic Wrestling
• UWW Master of Technique award winner
• Amateur Athletic Union James E. Sullivan Award winner

1989

• World Wrestling Championships

1988

• Summer Olympics
• NCAA Division I
• Big Eight Conference

1987

• World Wrestling Championships
• Pan American Games
• Pan American Championships
• NCAA Division I
• Big Eight Conference

1986

• Goodwill Games

1985

• NCAA Division I
• Big Eight Conference

Other honors

• Smith was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1997.
• He was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame with the class of 1997.^[11]
• In 2020, Smith was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.^[12]
• 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.^[13] Another nephew of Smith, J. T. Realmuto, is a Major League Baseball player.^[14]

See also

• List of Oklahoma State University Olympians

Bibliography

• Dellinger, Bob & Doris. 1994. The Cowboys Ride Again. Oklahoma Bylines Inc. ISBN 978-1-882336-04-3
• Zavoral, Nolan. 1997. A Season on the Mat. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-684-84787-0
• Hammond, Jairus K. 2005. The History of Collegiate Wrestling. National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. ISBN 978-0-9765064-0-9
• Moffat, James V. 2007. Wrestlers At The Trials. Exit Zero Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9799051-0-0
• Parrish, Kim D. 2007. Cowboy Up. Oklahoma Heritage Association. ISBN 978-1-885596-61-1