On our shortlist of the greatest amateur wrestlers of all time, Dan Gable is definitely one of the best wrestlers of all time. Not only is he a dominant wrestler, but he is also considered one of the best trainers of all time.
Here’s a condensed version of the legendary Dan Gable. He moves on from his journey to winning every wrestling accolade, dealing with tragedy, and becoming the greatest trainer.
Dan Gable’s Early Years
Dan Gable grew up in the small town of Waterloo, Iowa. From an early age, Gable was a self-confessed hell.
His parents were always working and Dan would always find a way to get into trouble. That’s when his parents decided to enroll him in the local YMCA to help him find guidance and discipline.
He was the first to enter swimming and actually excelled in this sport. Winning the state championship in backstroke at the age of 12.
Gable was already wrestling from an early age, but it was at this YMCA that he began honing his skills. But although Dan was adept at sports, he had a difficult upbringing.
His parents loved to drink and the local police would often visit his home to break up fights between his parents.
Dan Gable’s Early Wrestling Career
Despite Gable’s difficult upbringing, he had good coaches who helped him develop his skills. He credits much of his development to his wrestling coach at West Waterloo High School.
In his high school career, Dan went undefeated going 64-0 with 25 pins. Winning the state championship three years in a row in three different weight divisions.
Dan Gable’s College Career
Dan’s stellar high school career will earn him a full scholarship University of Iowa. A college that has historically been considered to have one of the best wrestling programs ever.
Gable would continue his dominance throughout his career. As a freshman, Gable would compete in the 142-pound class his entire college career.
He would go on to win three consecutive national championships in the weight class and go undefeated.
Dan Gable’s only collegiate loss
Entering his senior year, Dan hasn’t suffered a loss in his wrestling career for over a decade. In his final game at the National Championships, Gable had an impeccable record with 118 straight wins
He would face a sophomore from Washington named Larry Owings, who many assumed he would lose to Gable. Dan, who had been methodical about his pre-match rituals, did his usual thing.
Instead, he was giving interviews to ABC’s Wide World of Sport and not focusing on the match. However, Larry Owings was ready for the match and gave Gable the match of his life.
The property would shock the world and defeat the greatest wrestler in the country 13-11 to win the national title. He put Dan Gable’s collegiate record at 118-1.
Even though Gable lost, he felt that losing was the best thing that had ever happened to him. It will push him to pursue a world championship and an Olympic title.
Dan Gable performing at the 1971 World Series
After losing the college championship in 1970, Gable would come back in better form. His first major competition after college was at the 1971 World Championships.
He put in a strong showing and was the favorite to win the competition. He easily beat his first four opponents and won all of his matches by pinfall.
Unfortunately, Gable suffered an injury in his semi-final match and had to withdraw from the finals. I had to win the silver medal in the event, but many believe he would have won his final.
Dan Gable wins the gold medal at the 1972 Olympics
Gable will continue his hard training throughout the next year to prepare for the 1972 Olympic Games. His performance at the Munich Olympics is widely considered one of the best ever.
He was competing in the 68 kg category and would not have a single point scored on him throughout the Olympics. He won his six matches by a total of 27 points.
His match in the finals will be against Soviet Union wrestler and defending champion Ruslan Ashuraliez. She became the first American to win Olympic gold in freestyle wrestling since 1960.
To this day, people still talk about Gable’s performance at the 1972 Olympics.
Dan Gable Mental Toughness Training
Dan attributes much of his success to his training and mental toughness. He would spend hours a day training until exhaustion.
He took his body and mind to their limits to become the best he can be. Even through the seasons, Gable continued to train as if he was in wrestling season.
When he comes home during breaks and holidays, he will ask his friends to help him. both wrestlers and non-wrestlers to help him hone his technique and keep him in shape.
What it means, however, is that wrestling experts believe Dan’s best weapon was his mental strength. He credits his wrestling coach for instilling in him the importance of a tough mind.
Gable likes to read a quote from his coach: “Men win with humility and lose with dignity, but damn it don’t lose!”
He always remembered that throughout his wrestling career.
Dan Gable’s legacy as a coach
After having one of the best careers as an athlete, Gable was offered the head coaching job at the University of Iowa. He accepted the job in 1976 and would build one of the greatest dynasties in collegiate wrestling history.
In his 21-year coaching career at Iowa, the school has won 21 Big Ten championships. He never lost a conference title in his tenure as coach.
Also in those 21 years as coach at Iowa, his team has won 15 national championships. Not to mention the 45 individual champions and over 152 All-Americans who have been a part of the team.
Gable has also been a coach for the US Olympic Team on a few occasions. Most notably at the 1984 Olympics where his team won ten medals. Six of which were gold medals.
Dan retired from coaching in 1997 and was widely considered to be the best (if not the) best of all time.
The death of his sister, Diane Gabel
On June 1, 1964, Dan’s sister, Diane Gable, was murdered in her home in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She was unfair at nineteen years old.
Dan was heartbroken at the news of his sister’s death because the two were so close. News of the death was made nationwide and an investigation began.
A teenager named John Kyle was convicted of the murder. A shocking revelation, since Kyle was actually a neighbor of the Gable family growing up.
Gable later opened the Dan Gable Wrestling Institute in Waterloo. He dedicated the institute to the memory of his beloved sister.
You can hear Dan give the full details of Diane’s murder in this podcast clip from Joe Rogan.
Dan Gable’s life after training
After retiring from training in 1997, Dan became a motivational speaker and worked at his own wrestling institute. He does several speaking gigs every year and still does wrestling seminars.
Dan Gable Legacy
Dan Gable is without a doubt one of the best wrestlers and coaches to ever live. His ability and mental toughness have been an inspiration to many who would go on to become champions. When people talk about the greatest of all, he’s always on the shortlist.