Smith, John W.
Wrestling
b. Aug. 9, 1965, Oklahoma City, OK
The most honored wrestler in U. S. history, Smith is one of four brothers who have been involved in wrestling. His older brother Lee Roy is wrestling coach at Arizona State University, Pat won three NCAA championships, and Mark was a state high school champion.
Competing for Oklahoma State University, the 5-foot-7 Smith won NCAA championships at 134 pounds in 1987 and 1988 and he was the national cham;ion in 1986 and from 1988 through 1991. He's the only U. S. wrestler ever to win six world championships, and he did it in consecutive years, from 1987 through 1992.
Smith won gold medals in the 136.5-pound class at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics. He also won gold medals at the Goodwill Games in 1986 and 1990, at the Pan-American Games in 1987 and 1991, and at the World Cup tournament in 1991.
He was named outstanding wrestler in the 1987 NCAA tournament, in the 1991 world championships, and in the 1988 and 1991 national championships. Smith is the only American to win the international wrestler of the year award, in 1991, and the only wrestler to win the Sullivan award as the nation's outstanding amateur athlete, in 1990.
During his college career, Smith won 154 matches while losing only seven. He was undefeated in national competition, winning all 80 of his matches, and he won 100 of 105 international matches.
Smith became wrestling at Oklahoma State in 1991. His teams have won five NCAA championships and his wrestlers have won 23 individual titles.