Ranking the five best U.S. men’s freestyle wrestling Olympic teams is no easy task. The United States first entered the wrestling competition in the 1904 St. Louis Games and has been represented in every Olympic Games except 1980. After careful consideration, here’s a breakdown of the top teams, along with the criteria used to rank them: results, body of work, impact, and historical significance.
Teams That Just Missed the Cut
1904 St. Louis: The U.S. swept all matches and took home every medal, as no other countries competed.
1932 Los Angeles: The U.S. won three golds and two silvers out of seven weight classes, but the competition included fewer than 10 participants in some brackets. Sweden and Hungary were top teams, and Russia had not yet invested heavily in the sport.
1960 Rome: Terry McCann, Shelby Wilson, and Doug Blubaugh won gold, but none of the other five participants medaled.
1980 Moscow: The team had great potential, but the U.S. boycotted due to the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan, resulting in no medals.
1984 Los Angeles: The U.S. won seven golds and two silvers without the Soviet Union’s participation. Despite winning only one gold at the 1983 World Championships and two in 1985, the absence of Eastern Bloc countries casts doubt on the team’s ranking.
1976 Montreal: Six out of ten wrestlers won medals, including John Peterson’s gold at 82 kg. Despite their strong performance, they narrowly missed the fifth spot.
Top 5 U.S. Men’s Freestyle Wrestling Olympic Teams
5. 1988 Seoul
John Smith and Kenny Monday won golds, while Bruce Baumgartner secured a silver. Nate Carr and Bill Scherr took bronze. Despite a deep roster, the team didn’t reach its full potential. Mark Schultz and Barry Davis, both world-class wrestlers, didn’t medal. Smith and Monday’s undefeated runs, with Monday becoming the first Black wrestler to win Olympic gold, highlighted the team’s success.
48 kg: Tim Vanni – 4th
52 kg: Ken Chertow – DNP
57 kg: Barry Davis – DNP
62 kg: John Smith – Gold
68 kg: Nate Carr – Bronze
74 kg: Kenny Monday – Gold
82 kg: Mark Schultz – 6th
90 kg: Jim Scherr – 5th
100 kg: Bill Scherr – Bronze
130 kg: Bruce Baumgartner – Silver
4. 1996 Atlanta
Kendall Cross, Tom Brands, and Kurt Angle won gold medals, while Bruce Baumgartner added a bronze for his fourth Olympic medal. Townsend Saunders secured a silver. Although Kenny Monday made his third Olympic team, he didn’t medal. Despite Les Gutches and Melvin Douglas failing to medal, they were World champions.
48 kg: Rob Eiter – 8th
52 kg: Lou Rosselli – DNP
57 kg: Kendall Cross – Gold
62 kg: Tom Brands – Gold
68 kg: Townsend Saunders – Silver
74 kg: Kenny Monday – 6th
82 kg: Les Gutches – 7th
90 kg: Melvin Douglas – 7th
100 kg: Kurt Angle – Gold
130 kg: Bruce Baumgartner – Bronze
3. 1972 Munich
Dan Gable, Wayne Wells, and Ben Peterson won gold, while Rick Sanders and John Peterson took silver. Chris Taylor added a bronze. Despite strong performances, the team lacked broader medal production to claim the top spot.
48 kg: Sergio Gonzalez – 7th
52 kg: Jimmy Carr – DNP
57 kg: Rick Sanders – Silver
62 kg: Gene Davis – DNP
68 kg: Dan Gable – Gold
74 kg: Wayne Wells – Gold
82 kg: John Peterson – Silver
90 kg: Ben Peterson – Gold
100 kg: Henk Schenk – DNP
UNL: Chris Taylor – Bronze
2. 1992 Barcelona
John Smith and Bruce Baumgartner won their second gold medals, and Kevin Jackson secured his first. Zeke Jones and Kenny Monday won silver, and Chris Campbell took bronze. Despite Monday’s injury, the team performed admirably, with Campbell medaling 12 years after missing the 1980 Moscow Games.
48 kg: Tim Vanni – 5th
52 kg: Zeke Jones – Silver
57 kg: Kendall Cross – 6th
62 kg: John Smith – Gold
68 kg: Townsend Saunders – 7th
74 kg: Kenny Monday – Silver
82 kg: Kevin Jackson – Gold
90 kg: Chris Campbell – Bronze
100 kg: Mark Coleman – 7th
130 kg: Bruce Baumgartner – Gold
1. 2020 Tokyo
The U.S. team sent five wrestlers to the competition, and all five won medals. David Taylor and Gable Steveson secured golds, Kyle Snyder took silver, and Thomas Gilman and Kyle Dake won bronze. This team’s accomplishments make it the most successful in U.S. history.
57 kg: Thomas Gilman – Bronze
65 kg: Did Not Qualify – DNQ
74 kg: Kyle Dake – Bronze
86 kg: David Taylor – Gold
97 kg: Kyle Snyder – Silver
125 kg: Gable Steveson – Gold
These rankings reflect the remarkable achievements of U.S. men’s freestyle wrestling teams over the years, showcasing their dedication, skill, and historical significance in the sport.
You Might Be Interested In:
-
7 of the Grossest World Records Involving Food and Insect Consumption
-
Long-Term Crypto Leaders: 2024’s Top 5 Crypto Picks for Savvy Investors
