I’ve never particularly been a wrestling fan. As an Olympics spectator, I’ve known the names and stories of the more famous people in the sport like Dan Gable, Bruce Baumgartner and Rulon Gardner. But when we found out the wrestling trials were within driving distance (Iowa City) and the tickets were reasonable, we decided we needed to go. Our good friends offered us a place to stay and as wrestling fans, they were eager to join us. (Thanks Kim and Cindy for chauffeuring us and your amazing meals and hospitality!)
Walking into the arena in the heart of wrestling country at the University of Iowa was an interesting experience. I mean, I’m used to being at gymnastics meets where everyone seems to be under five feet and a hundred pounds. But I was instantly surrounded by a plethora of well fed Midwestern wrestling addicts. Most everyone was dressed in their high school, club or college hoodies. Everyone knew everyone. We were definitely out of our element.
There were four mats , Greco-Roman style and Freestyle, men and women. After an amazing Star Spangled Banner, the athletes walked out and it was an instant four ring circus. I didn’t know where to watch. And here I was again an uneducated but enthusiastic spectator. Over the course of two days (about 18 hours) we saw over 400 matches. I learned a lot, learned how much I still didn’t know, and was pleasantly surprised at how much I really enjoyed it all!
With that many matches and athletes, there are a lot of stories to be told. But here’s a few of the highlights:
- Rulon Gardner, Olympic Gold Medalist, snowmobile accident survivor and Biggest Loser Contestant had been training for the past year to make a comeback. He had a couple of hundred pounds to lose to make weight at 265. The week before, he still had forty pounds to lose. The day before weigh-ins, he was only five pounds away from his goal… and he decided not to keep going. His reasons for trying the comeback were to regain his health and self-respect and he felt the actual wrestling was secondary. He said his body was telling him it was time to stop. His interview on Flowsports is one you should watch.
- At dinner, we sat next to a quiet unassuming young high schooler, who we found out was the youngest competitor in the Trials. I don’t have adequate words to describe the look in his eyes and on his face when we congratulated him on his performance that day. Pride, passion, humbleness, gratitude and a definite fire that told me he’d be back next time. And his very proud papa/coach didn’t hesitate to tell us a thing or two about his talented son!
- This was the first time I’ve ever been at an event where the men’s bathroom lines were five times longer than the women’s!!
- Henry Cejudo, the youngest ever gold medalist was attempting a comeback after 3-1/2 years of not wrestling. His mom was an illegal alien in 2008 when he wrestled in the Beijing Games and was unable to leave the country to see him compete. He came back, in part, to try and make the team, so she could see him wrestle in the Olympics. Unfortunately he was beaten and didn’t make the team. But his last match was one of the most outstanding of the weekend. Have heard that his book American Victory- Wrestling, Dreams and a Journey Toward Home is a must read.
- The women wrestlers were awesome. Tough, aggressive and very skilled.
- OK, so this is about “THE BALL DRAW.” The athletes wrestle three two minute periods, the winner is the best two out of three. If they get to the end of a period with the score tied, they go to a “ball draw.” One wrestler goes to a big black sack and draws one of the four smaller black sacks. When opened it contains either a red or blue ball. The color matching the wrestlers uniform affords him the “clinch.” Wrestler RED then holds up the leg of wrestler BLUE and has 30 seconds to take him down or push him out of bounds for the win. Needless to say wrestler BLUE doesn’t have much chance to win. There may have been more, but we only saw one “leg up” guy get the win. So in many cases, an Olympic berth was decided by a red or blue ball. Had a hard time with the unfairness of that one!
- Watching the focus, intensity, resilience and determination of athletes at this level is just awe inspiring. The wrestlers were all class acts. We saw only one athlete lose it a little following a loss.
- And finally, probably the most poignant ritual in all of sports, the wrestler taking off his or her shoes and leaving them on the mat to announce their retirement. It’s hard not to get choked up watching an athlete announce their departure from the sport in such a meaningful way. The visual is just a heart grabber.
I know I’m not doing justice to all the athletes we watched that weekend. But I can honestly say it was a most fun and inspiring weekend. Can’t wait to see them on the big stage in London.
In Celebration of Sport!