Dan Gable
| Dan Gable | |
|---|---|
| Weight | 68 kg (150 lb) |
| Born | October 25, 1948 Waterloo, Iowa |
| High school | Waterloo West High School |
| State championships | 3 (Iowa) |
| College | Iowa State University |
| NCAA championships | 2 |
| Olympic team | United States of America |
| Olympic medal | Gold |
| Status | Coach of University of Iowa |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's freestyle wrestling | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
 |
1972 Munich | Lightweight |
| World Championships | ||
|
1971 Sofia | 68 kg |
Dan Gable (born October 25, 1948 in Waterloo, Iowa) is a well-known American amateur wrestler. He is considered one of the greatest American amateur wrestlers of all time. He is famous for having only lost one match in his entire collegiate career--his last. He was a head coach at Iowa for many years and turned over his coaching career to Jim Zalesky which in turn took a downfall. In the later years Gable asked Tom Brands to become the head Coach and Iowa has seen a National Championship this past year (2008).
High school career
Although Gable was not permitted to wrestle on the varsity wrestling squad during his freshman year, he was an undefeated state champ during his sophomore through senior years. The only recorded high school loss suffered by Gable was during his freshman year when he lost an unofficial match to a teammate named Ron Keister[1]
As a sophomore in high school, Gable experienced a personal tragedy.[2] His older sister, Diane, was brutally raped and murdered in the Gable family home, while Dan and his parents were on vacation. Gable later recalled that the event gave him a singular passion for wrestling, as a way to uplift his shattered family. In his documentary Gable, he says "I needed to give them enough entertainment that they didn't have to look other places."
Folkstyle and Freestyle Career
After high school, Gable wrestled for Iowa State University. Gable wrestled for Iowa State's varsity squad for three years and won two NCAA titles. Gable's overall collegiate mark was 118-1. His only collegiate defeat was in his final match where he lost to Larry Owings of the University of Washington.
Gable wrestled on the national freestyle wrestling circuit between 1967 and 1976 where he earned a record of 67-4-2. He wrestled on the international freestyle wrestling circuit between 1971 and 1973 where he earned a record of 29-1-1. Overall, his freestyle record was 97-5-3.
1967
- Gable was permitted to wrestle on the varsity wrestling squad at Iowa State because of NCAA rules that did not permit freshmen to wrestle.
- 1966-67 Midlands Tournament Champion, wrestling unattached
- Gable's domestic freestyle record in 1967 was 3-2. He went 3-2 at the U.S. Freestyle Nationals
1968
- 1967-68 Midlands Tournament Champion
- Big Eight Champion
- NCAA National Champion
- Gable's domestic freestyle record in 1968 was 8-2-1, including a 3-2-1 mark at the Olympic Trials
1969
- 1968-69 Midlands Tournament Champion
- Big Eight Champion
- NCAA National Champion
- U.S. Freestyle National Champion
1970
- 1969-70 Midlands Tournament Champion
- Big Eight Champion
- NCAA Runner-up
- U.S. Freestyle National Champion
1971
- 1970-71 Midlands Tournament Champion, wrestling unattached
- Gable's international freestyle record in 1971 was 17-1-1.
- Lost to Vasily Kozakhov at the Tblisi Tournament.
- Tied Nasrulla Nasrualaev in a dual meet with Russia.
- Pan-American Games Champion
- World Freestyle Champion in the 68 kg category at Sofia, Bulgaria.[3]
1972
- 1971-72 Midlands Tournament Champion, wrestling unattached
- Gable's international freestyle record in 1972 was 11-0.
- Tblisi Tournament Champion.
- Olympic Champion.
1973
- Gable's international freestyle record in 1973 was 1-0, defeating Pavel Pinigan in a dual meet with Russia.
1976
- Lost to Lee Kemp at the Northern Open.
Coaching career
Gable became head wrestling coach at the University of Iowa in 1976. He formed a dynasty matched by few. From 1978 to 1986, the Hawkeyes won the NCAA title each year, a record nine in succession. He continued to coach the team until a sabbatical after the 1997 season. His record in dual meets was 355-21-5 which included 15 NCAA titles and 21 straight Big Ten titles.
In 1997, the Hawkeyes were expected to lose to the favored Oklahoma State Cowboys. But Gable, who was by this time coaching on crutches after hip replacement surgery, led his team to its 17th NCAA team title and to an unprecedented NCAA-record 170 points.
In addition to his leadership at the college level, Gable was head coach of the United States Olympic team in freestyle wrestling in 1980, 1984, and 2000. Currently, he is an assistant athletic director at the University of Iowa.
Gable's successor at Iowa, Jim Zalesky, won three NCAA titles under him. It was announced on April 14, 2006 that Gable would be rejoining the coaching staff at Iowa as top assistant coach to current coach and former Gable national champion Tom Brands.[4]
Gable remains involved with the team, but stepped down from his assistant coach role in October, 2007.[5]
In 2008, Coach Tom Brands led Iowa to its 21st NCAA championship.
Family Life
- Dan is married to his wife Kathy and has four grown daughters, Jenny, Annie, Molly and Mackenzie Gable.
Popularity
- In an Esquire interview, actor, and high school wrestler Tom Cruise considered Gable his greatest hero[citation needed]. Gable himself was profiled in Esquire by the novelist and former University of Pittsburgh wrestler John Irving. The story was entitled "Gorgeous Dan"[citation needed].
- Gable has perennially been on the wishlist for a Republican candidate for Governor of Iowa or Congressional positions[citation needed].
- In 1999, Sports Illustrated selected Dan Gable as the greatest sports figure in the history of the state of Iowa.[6]
- During Gable's tenure as coach, the teen sitcom Saved by the Bell referred to the University of Iowa and a fictional coach that had appeared to scout AC Slater portrayed by Mario Lopez for their team[citation needed].
External links
- Official site
- Dan Gable Official Interview
- Website of the film Catch - the hold not taken, featuring Dan Gable, a documentary on the history of freestyle wrestling
- Dan Gable's U.S. Olympic Team bio
- Gable's wins and losses between the years 1963 and 1973
- Dan Gable videos on Flowrestling
Notes
- ^ http://desmoinesregister.com/sports/extras/hall/gable.html
- ^ Microsoft Word - GABLE.doc
- ^ Men's freestyle wrestling world championship medalists in 68 kg: 1969-95 (Shown as Danny Gable). - Accessed January 1, 2008.
- ^ TheMat.com - The Official Website of USA Wrestling
- ^ Brands Announces Change In Gable's Title :: Gable returns to role as special assistant to the director of athletics effective Oct. 1
- ^ SI.com - SI 50th - Iowa - The 50 Greatest Iowa Sports Figures - Wednesday July 09, 2003 03:26 PM
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