![ (Smith on the medals stand in 1988 after winning the Gold.)"My first reaction this morning was emotional. It was a tough, tough 15 minutes because I didn't know at the time that there was an opportunity to fight back. I didn't know at the time that we can win this battle. It just made me sick to think that the opportunity for 14, 15, 16-year-old kids who have thoughts about being an Olympic champion is erased. We may only be talking about a handful of kids. It made me sick. As the day went on, I got stronger. I was on the phone a lot today with not just people in this country but all over the world. We're all ready to stand together." ](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/1f/47/1f473870f5336902581a746c32f8d558.jpg?itok=Ak12GE9A " (Smith on the medals stand in 1988 after winning the Gold.)"My first reaction this morning was emotional. It was a tough, tough 15 minutes because I didn't know at the time that there was an opportunity to fight back. I didn't know at the time that we can win this battle. It just made me sick to think that the opportunity for 14, 15, 16-year-old kids who have thoughts about being an Olympic champion is erased. We may only be talking about a handful of kids. It made me sick. As the day went on, I got stronger. I was on the phone a lot today with not just people in this country but all over the world. We're all ready to stand together." "){kind=small}
!["One of the most disappointing things that I've learned today is that this decision came down among the executive committee of the IOC, and we had no representation from the United States on the executive committee. How can you vote on a sport that [the United States] has dominated throughout time in the Olympics with [the United States'] medal count has been one of the highest of any sport and have no representation? The United States won the medal count and there's no representation for our sport or our governing body in a vote. Nor did we have any idea that wrestling had a real threat of being dropped. There was no voice for wrestling in the decision making of the IOC. "When you look at the criteria of the IOC and everything their movement is about, wrestling shouldn't even be considered on the chopping block. Of the last three sports that were recommended, two of them were two of our best sports: baseball and softball. Now, it's wrestling. Those three sports, traditionally, from the United States have done extremely well. You're wondering what's going on and what's wrong with this problem. Wrestling meets everything they're looking for, especially the participation throughout the world and the diversity. Although we have a million wrestlers in the United States, that's a small number compared to some of the countries. The fight is just starting. It was a recommendation from the IOC that wrestling would not be allowed in the 2020 Olympics. There will be additional meetings from this point forward, one in May and the final decision September of 2013. I can tell you the wrestling world will come together. It will unite. The fight has just begun." ](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/c8/66/c866e55a9e7f80e9ca1e4ecaa4b4de27.jpg?itok=RUtmY6dO ""One of the most disappointing things that I've learned today is that this decision came down among the executive committee of the IOC, and we had no representation from the United States on the executive committee. How can you vote on a sport that [the United States] has dominated throughout time in the Olympics with [the United States'] medal count has been one of the highest of any sport and have no representation? The United States won the medal count and there's no representation for our sport or our governing body in a vote. Nor did we have any idea that wrestling had a real threat of being dropped. There was no voice for wrestling in the decision making of the IOC. "When you look at the criteria of the IOC and everything their movement is about, wrestling shouldn't even be considered on the chopping block. Of the last three sports that were recommended, two of them were two of our best sports: baseball and softball. Now, it's wrestling. Those three sports, traditionally, from the United States have done extremely well. You're wondering what's going on and what's wrong with this problem. Wrestling meets everything they're looking for, especially the participation throughout the world and the diversity. Although we have a million wrestlers in the United States, that's a small number compared to some of the countries. The fight is just starting. It was a recommendation from the IOC that wrestling would not be allowed in the 2020 Olympics. There will be additional meetings from this point forward, one in May and the final decision September of 2013. I can tell you the wrestling world will come together. It will unite. The fight has just begun." ")
!["I think the disappointing thing from this morning is that the IOC recommended eliminating wrestling from the 2020 Olympics. It's just devastating. There's no one in the sport of wrestling in the world that had any idea that this was going to happen. There had been talk about a lot of sports over the last eight years. We were caught off guard with this. What was disappointing was that we really didn't have any representation [on the committee] to fight for ourselves. It was a judgment that didn't have any credentials behind it. That's what was disappointing." John Smith after winning the gold medal in wrestling in 1992.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/80/95/80959a4143ae98b6d8d0538d29fff4d5.jpg?itok=3L3BCmTS ""I think the disappointing thing from this morning is that the IOC recommended eliminating wrestling from the 2020 Olympics. It's just devastating. There's no one in the sport of wrestling in the world that had any idea that this was going to happen. There had been talk about a lot of sports over the last eight years. We were caught off guard with this. What was disappointing was that we really didn't have any representation [on the committee] to fight for ourselves. It was a judgment that didn't have any credentials behind it. That's what was disappointing." John Smith after winning the gold medal in wrestling in 1992.")
Oklahoma State wrestling coach John Smith vowed to fight to keep wrestling in the Olympics on Tuesday, Feb. 12, the same day the International Olympic Committee announced it would drop wrestling from the games.
The news came as a shock as wrestling was one of the first Olympic events, dating back to 700 b.c., and has been considered a fundamental part of the games.
Smith is a two-time gold medal winner himself, (1988 and 1992) and has coached Oklahoma State to five national championships. Smith has won six world titles himself, as well as several national titles as a wrestler. His Oklahoma State team is currently ranked No. 2 in the NCAA and is unbeaten so far this season.
Even though the recommendation has been made, the final decision will not be made until September of this year. Smith said the wrestling world will fight the decision. Smith said he was on the phone all day with wrestling people around the world. He was very upset at first, but has since learned that there is still time to fight the decision.
"The fight is just starting. It was a recommendation from the IOC that wrestling would not be allowed in the 2020 Olympics. There will be additional meetings from this point forward, one in May and the final decision September of 2013. I can tell you the wrestling world will come together. It will unite. The fight has just begun."
Smith decried the fact that the United States had no representation on the committee that made the decision that was announced Tuesday. He said that while the United States has done very well, there are many other countries that will also fight to keep the sport.
Smith held a news conference Tuesday and here are his answers to questions about wrestling in the Olympics.
!["I think the disappointing thing from this morning is that the IOC recommended eliminating wrestling from the 2020 Olympics. It's just devastating. There's no one in the sport of wrestling in the world that had any idea that this was going to happen. There had been talk about a lot of sports over the last eight years. We were caught off guard with this. What was disappointing was that we really didn't have any representation [on the committee] to fight for ourselves. It was a judgment that didn't have any credentials behind it. That's what was disappointing." John Smith after winning the gold medal in wrestling in 1992.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/31/4f/314f6b16823d7b9d456a26d3b055587f.jpg?itok=3jOOhNF9 ""I think the disappointing thing from this morning is that the IOC recommended eliminating wrestling from the 2020 Olympics. It's just devastating. There's no one in the sport of wrestling in the world that had any idea that this was going to happen. There had been talk about a lot of sports over the last eight years. We were caught off guard with this. What was disappointing was that we really didn't have any representation [on the committee] to fight for ourselves. It was a judgment that didn't have any credentials behind it. That's what was disappointing." John Smith after winning the gold medal in wrestling in 1992.")
!["One of the most disappointing things that I've learned today is that this decision came down among the executive committee of the IOC, and we had no representation from the United States on the executive committee. How can you vote on a sport that [the United States] has dominated throughout time in the Olympics with [the United States'] medal count has been one of the highest of any sport and have no representation? The United States won the medal count and there's no representation for our sport or our governing body in a vote. Nor did we have any idea that wrestling had a real threat of being dropped. There was no voice for wrestling in the decision making of the IOC. "When you look at the criteria of the IOC and everything their movement is about, wrestling shouldn't even be considered on the chopping block. Of the last three sports that were recommended, two of them were two of our best sports: baseball and softball. Now, it's wrestling. Those three sports, traditionally, from the United States have done extremely well. You're wondering what's going on and what's wrong with this problem. Wrestling meets everything they're looking for, especially the participation throughout the world and the diversity. Although we have a million wrestlers in the United States, that's a small number compared to some of the countries. The fight is just starting. It was a recommendation from the IOC that wrestling would not be allowed in the 2020 Olympics. There will be additional meetings from this point forward, one in May and the final decision September of 2013. I can tell you the wrestling world will come together. It will unite. The fight has just begun." ](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/5a/21/5a21ec58404cdda473e86736a8055306.jpg?itok=iw7jIgBZ ""One of the most disappointing things that I've learned today is that this decision came down among the executive committee of the IOC, and we had no representation from the United States on the executive committee. How can you vote on a sport that [the United States] has dominated throughout time in the Olympics with [the United States'] medal count has been one of the highest of any sport and have no representation? The United States won the medal count and there's no representation for our sport or our governing body in a vote. Nor did we have any idea that wrestling had a real threat of being dropped. There was no voice for wrestling in the decision making of the IOC. "When you look at the criteria of the IOC and everything their movement is about, wrestling shouldn't even be considered on the chopping block. Of the last three sports that were recommended, two of them were two of our best sports: baseball and softball. Now, it's wrestling. Those three sports, traditionally, from the United States have done extremely well. You're wondering what's going on and what's wrong with this problem. Wrestling meets everything they're looking for, especially the participation throughout the world and the diversity. Although we have a million wrestlers in the United States, that's a small number compared to some of the countries. The fight is just starting. It was a recommendation from the IOC that wrestling would not be allowed in the 2020 Olympics. There will be additional meetings from this point forward, one in May and the final decision September of 2013. I can tell you the wrestling world will come together. It will unite. The fight has just begun." ")
![ (Smith on the medals stand in 1988 after winning the Gold.)"My first reaction this morning was emotional. It was a tough, tough 15 minutes because I didn't know at the time that there was an opportunity to fight back. I didn't know at the time that we can win this battle. It just made me sick to think that the opportunity for 14, 15, 16-year-old kids who have thoughts about being an Olympic champion is erased. We may only be talking about a handful of kids. It made me sick. As the day went on, I got stronger. I was on the phone a lot today with not just people in this country but all over the world. We're all ready to stand together." ](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/d0/f0/d0f0d52ec29c35f1f208e46840bfe717.jpg?itok=ssOxV22m " (Smith on the medals stand in 1988 after winning the Gold.)"My first reaction this morning was emotional. It was a tough, tough 15 minutes because I didn't know at the time that there was an opportunity to fight back. I didn't know at the time that we can win this battle. It just made me sick to think that the opportunity for 14, 15, 16-year-old kids who have thoughts about being an Olympic champion is erased. We may only be talking about a handful of kids. It made me sick. As the day went on, I got stronger. I was on the phone a lot today with not just people in this country but all over the world. We're all ready to stand together." ")
![ Smith wrestles in the 1988 Olympics."To any young kid who hears there's not going to be wrestling in the Olympics, keep fighting. Keep working. Keep training. I'm going to fight for you. There's only one option with this decision and that's to get it overturned. I'm going to live every day to make a difference in that final decision." ](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/86/e1/86e165e81d17474490f1cf6895c03b87.jpg?itok=aUP30YaU " Smith wrestles in the 1988 Olympics."To any young kid who hears there's not going to be wrestling in the Olympics, keep fighting. Keep working. Keep training. I'm going to fight for you. There's only one option with this decision and that's to get it overturned. I'm going to live every day to make a difference in that final decision." ")
![Oklahoma State wrestler Coleman Scott won the bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics."We recognize that we have until May, the first meeting. The final decision is in September. We have some great leaders right now that are working on where we go from here. I can tell you that for countries like India, one of the few medals they won was in wrestling. One of the strongest sports is wrestling. All throughout Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, the Japanese, who dominated and one of their best Olympics in wrestling, and all the republics of the old Soviet Union- it's one of their key sports and one of the only medals they get. It's not just us. It's not just Oklahoma State or John Smith that has passion for wrestling. It's all over this world and there are a lot of numbers behind it. With those numbers is how we get things changed."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/46/00/4600042a6368520dccef2e310050f4f1.jpg?itok=IED4Vkmg "Oklahoma State wrestler Coleman Scott won the bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics."We recognize that we have until May, the first meeting. The final decision is in September. We have some great leaders right now that are working on where we go from here. I can tell you that for countries like India, one of the few medals they won was in wrestling. One of the strongest sports is wrestling. All throughout Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, the Japanese, who dominated and one of their best Olympics in wrestling, and all the republics of the old Soviet Union- it's one of their key sports and one of the only medals they get. It's not just us. It's not just Oklahoma State or John Smith that has passion for wrestling. It's all over this world and there are a lot of numbers behind it. With those numbers is how we get things changed."")
![ A United States wrestler at the 2012 Olympics "This past Olympics at London in 2012, there were over 70 countries that participated in wrestling. When you compare that to other sports, again, wrestling is very high on the list. That has always been what the Olympic movement has been about, which is country's participating in all the sports. Our international governing body has always moved to develop wrestling throughout the world...When you talk about participation, it's a number that is staggering. It's well represented and it meets every criteria [the IOC] is looking for." ](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/bd/9b/bd9b0d99007ddf1401400ea7ccc5091d.jpg?itok=xvA6uLqb " A United States wrestler at the 2012 Olympics "This past Olympics at London in 2012, there were over 70 countries that participated in wrestling. When you compare that to other sports, again, wrestling is very high on the list. That has always been what the Olympic movement has been about, which is country's participating in all the sports. Our international governing body has always moved to develop wrestling throughout the world...When you talk about participation, it's a number that is staggering. It's well represented and it meets every criteria [the IOC] is looking for." ")
Comments