John Smith finished second in college as a sophomore, and was a good wrestler. He went on to beat the world champion in the goodwill games later that year, and became America's best wrestler. Smith opted…
+ See More +John Smith finished second in college as a sophomore, and was a good wrestler. He went on to beat the world champion in the goodwill games later that year, and became America's best wrestler. Smith opted…
+ See More - See Less -John Smith finished second in college as a sophomore, and was a good wrestler. He went on to beat the world champion in the goodwill games later that year, and became America's best wrestler. Smith opted out of the World Championship to focus on becoming a NCAA champion first. He won all but one match (his very first match junior year) after that in College. While John Smith was winning two Individual NCAA titles, he also started a string of six straight world championships that included two Olympic gold medal performances in 1988 and 1992.
John Smith is considered by some to be America's best wrestler of all time, and there is no argument that he was America's most brilliant technician. Smith invented a low single shot that was like lightning with its striking penetration at the ankles and lower legs of his opponents. He then invented and refined many kinds of finishes that almost always assured his takedown.
John Smith took over the legendary Oklahoma State program in the early 1990s. He coached his younger brother Pat Smith to four NCAA individual national titles, the first wrestler to ever to accomplish that feat, and won his first team National Championship in 1994. In 2003 he began a string of four straight team NCAA championships.
Despite winning the last four team NCAA titles, Coach Smith is driven to take the Oklahoma State team to greater heights. He and the rest of his coaching staff have their work cut out for them as they will be losing a legendary cast of seniors.
thanks for the quick answer... I don't know where I could find it... it's pretty sure that the ex-USSR countries have a video database where every match was registered, maybe using contacts in Eastern countries may help, since it may be broken down in many pieces throughout the country. But that's a hell of a mission! Didn't the FILA had the project of collecting these videos?
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“Mister Vitagliano, do you know where I could find the match between John Smith and Alben Kumbarov at the 1986 goodwill games? Alben is my coach and he says that he took a 5-0 lead then that they got even at 5-5 and that John won by referees decision... I think that it would be interesting to see Smith in that situation, and especially how he got these points scored on him... Thank you (and by the way, thank you for these great vids :-))”
DROP
Wisconsin's Jordan had beaten John Smith in the 1985 NCAA finals by a score of 7-4 I think (can't find anyone that has the entire match). Smith was a Sophomore at the time and would redshirt the next year to concentrate on International competition and gain more experience. The next Summer Smith won the Goodwill Games in Moscow, defeating Khasser Isaev of the Soviet Union for the Gold medal. Isaev would go on to win the World Championships later that October. I believe Smith did make the World Team that year but opted not to go as it conflicted with the College season (similar situation to Sanderson and Eggum in 2001). Joe MacFarland went as the US rep and lost a close match to Isaev in the Gold Medal match. Entirely possible Smith would have won the Worlds in 1986 if he had competed though that is pure speculation.
Anyway - This is a great match where Smith dominated. Just a masterful technician with amazing speed and the ability to change levels quickly.
For those watching from Ascend WC, Smith hits the technique we went over Tuesday night at ~ the 1:40 mark.
Enjoy.