Wrestling Blogs - Stephen Stonebraker

Adam Wheeler, just became an Olympic Bronze Medalist for the United States in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2008 Olympic Games.

In the world of amateur wrestling, the highest achievement one can earn, is to become a medalist at the Olympic games. In grade school and high school wrestling, you're wrestling the best wrestlers in your state. In collegiate wrestling your wrestling the best wrestlers in your country. In international wrestling, which is where the Olympics fall into place, your wrestling the greatest wrestlers in the world.

In the minds of many people, their are step processes you must achieve, and conquer before you are able to move on to the next level. While their is truth to this theory, it is not 100% accurate and it is possible to achieve something of higher value, even if you didn't achieve what is of lower value.

For example, in the minds of many, if you never qualified for the State wrestling tournament in high school, then you most likely aren't going to qualify for the National tournament in college, especially at the Division I level.

That does hold true in many cases, but there have been wrestlers in the past, who have never placed or even went to their state tournament who have been NCAA All Americans as well as National champions.

Adam Wheeler never even qualified for his State tournament. He could have easily got it into his mind that since he never qualified for his state tournament that he was incapable of higher and more honorable success. However, he didn't. He instead, decided to become a better wrestler, and achieve something that was 10 times more difficult to achieve than what he had not been able to achieve.

A guy who never even qualified for the state tournament in high school, taking a bronze medal in amateur wrestling's toughest competition. Unbelievable.

This is a story that should be shaired with many people. There are so many people out their who have the mindset of "step processes" and it's complete rubbish.

Not just wrestling, but anything in life. For example, Actors think that if they didn't make their community play back in hickville, Iowa then their's no way they can get a part in a major theatrical production in Minneapolis. Therefore, they give up on their passions for acting and don't even try out for the part!

Adam Wheeler is proof, walking breathing proof that you don't have to have anything in your history to be successful! You don't! Work hard, be dedicated, think positive, believe in yourself, listen to those who believe in you and go out their and try your hardest for what you want!

Adam Wheeler was never a state qualifer, he was never a NCAA All American or National Champion. Never, never, never....but he IS, and I repeat IS an Olympic Bronze Medalist!

If you've ever given up on something, give up on it because you no longer have a passion or a desire to be good at it any longer. Don't give up on it because you have been led to believe that you're not good enough by some bullshit theory of required prerequisites.