National Wrestling Hall of Fame

The Gold Standard

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T HE GOLD STANDARD EXHIBIT AND BOOKLET ARE A CELEBRATION OF THE PAST 108 YEARS OF U.S. OLYMPIC WRESTLING GLORY. Featured are the 47 individuals from the United States who have won a total of 50 gold medals in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling at the Olympic Games from 1904-2008. The following pages depict a legacy of excellence achieved by a select group of individuals from the United States who have captured the greatest prize of all in the sport of wrestling; an Olympic gold medal. The images of these Olympic wrestling champions are forever etched in the minds of American fans who have witnessed their unforgettable moments of triumph, realized because of commitment, discipline, sacrifice, determination and perseverance. There is perhaps no greater sense of accomplishment in sport than to represent your country at the Olympic Games. There is no greater sense of patriotism than to stand atop an award podium watching the stars and stripes ascend while the Star Spangled Banner plays. As Americans, we honor these 47 heroes of our Olympic heritage and take the opportunity to express our gratitude to those Olympic champions Lou Banach, Doug Blubaugh, Glen Brand, George Dole, Allie Morrison and Jack VanBebber for defending our freedom by serving in our Armed Forces during their careers. At some point in the lives of each of these 47 gold medalists, the joy of competing fueled their passion for wrestling and strengthened their quest for gold against any and all adversities. We pay tribute to these extraordinary individuals and to our national governing body, USA Wrestling, for helping to pave the way to wrestling's greatest glory. That's exactly why this booklet was created—to spark the interest that will continue the path to perpetuate this great Olympic heritage in current and future generations. LEE ROY SMITH Executive Director, National Wrestling Hall of Fame 2 | NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM THE GOLD STANDARD All material presented herwith © 2012 National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. All rights reserved.

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