Meet Dan Gable: The only wrestler to not have conceded a single point at the Olympic Games
Wrestling is always a highlight when it comes to the Olympic Games. In 1972, an American freestyle wrestler - Dan Gable, made headlines with his fierce performance in the sport. Gable won a gold medal for America by not losing a single point in the whole tournament.
Gable's introduction to wrestling took place in high school. He was undefeated at the high school level and won three Iowa state high school championships. Gable made an immediate impact on American wrestling by winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association in 1968 and 1969. He set an all-time record with 100 consecutive college victories.
However, his winning streak at the amateur level ended when Larry Owings defeated him at the NCAA 142-pound national championship. Post his graduation, Gable won the 1971 World and Pan-American championships. During the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, Gable ended a 12-year drought for the United States of America.
Gable not only won a gold medal but also became the only wrestler to win a yellow metal without losing a single point. Gable's 1972 Olympic Games achievements are still an inspiration for the young wrestlers in America to this day.
in 1972, Dan Gable began his coaching journey with the University of Iowa. He became the head coach of the University in 1977 and was there till 1997. Under his guidance, the University of Iowa won 15 NCAA titles and 21 Big Ten championships. Gabel became the Hall of Famer in US Wrestling in 1980 and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1985.
Wrestler Nisha Dahiya chases Olympic Games medal dream
India is a land of some of the best wrestlers. The young debutant Nisha Dahiya is eyeing to reach the same list in the upcoming Olympic Games. She sealed a top spot for the Olympic qualifiers in May and now her mission is to wear the gold in Paris.
Nisha has recently recovered from a collarbone injury. She was surviving on a liquid diet for months for a faster recovery.
The injury struck during the trials of the Asian Games, but the talented wrestler was bedridden for almost two months. Her career has seen multiple injuries in the past, but every time Nisha has faced challenges, she has bounced back stronger.
2016 Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik became her mentor and since then she has been training regressively to achieve her dream. The Paris Olympic Games will be her first appearance on the global stage and Nisha Dahiya will be hopeful to make history.