[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 26878]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                          TRIBUTE TO DAN GABLE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite my colleagues' 
attention to the career of Dan Gable, an Iowan who has made a unique 
contribution to amateur wrestling, and in the process, become a hero 
and role model for athletes in the United States and around the world.
  Based on his personal record and that of his team's, Dan Gable may 
well be the greatest competitor and greatest coach in the history of 
sports. After winning a series of State championships for Waterloo West 
High School in Waterloo, Iowa, Dan attended Iowa State University, 
where he won two national collegiate championships.
  Subsequently he won the prestigious Tblisi Tournament in Russia, 
captured championships in the Pan American games, and the world 
wrestling tournament. In the 1972 Olympic games, Dan not only won a 
Gold Medal, but in the six matches he had to win to do so, he did not 
give up a single point. It was the first time an American had ever gone 
through an entire Olympics unscored upon.
  Dan concluded his career as a wrestler with an overall record of 307 
wins and 7 losses, with no new worlds to conquer. He turned to 
coaching, beginning at the University of Iowa as an assistant, and soon 
taking over as head coach.
  As head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, his teams won 15 NCAA team 
championships in 21 years, including nine straight between 1978 to 
1986, and three in a row on two subsequent sessions.
  In listing Iowa University wrestling alongside the New York Yankees 
and the Green Bay Packers as one of the greatest sports dynasties in 
the 20th century, Sports Illustrated said, in part:

       As terrifying as Dan Gable was to opposing wrestlers when 
     he won the Olympic Gold Medal in 1972, he was just as 
     discomfiting matside as he seemed to will his Hawkeyes to 
     total dominance.

  In the final analysis, Dan Gable's influence cannot be measured 
simply in wins and losses. By precept and example, he has both taught 
and embodied the values wrestling preeminently imparts: equality of 
opportunity, discipline, and respect for self and opponent.
  There is no more egalitarian circle than a wrestling mat. While all 
sports involve God-given athleticism, wrestling eliminates the 
advantages of size and rewards hard work and conditioning. The 
talented, unschooled athlete simply cannot prevail over the dedicated 
plugger.
  Wrestling teaches a healthy respect for the role of limits in life. 
All experienced wrestlers know the structure of all the moves. Unlike 
the professional entertainment that is its namesake, amateur wrestling 
is devoid of tricks. Yet, within the context of a limited number of 
moves, each wrestler develops his own style which best reflects his 
nature, physique, and ability.
  Just as the successful wrestler must know his limits, he must 
understand his opponent, modifying his moves to adjust to his 
opponent's strengths and weaknesses. Wrestlers learn to live within 
limits imposed by the exacting discipline of the sport, a sport that is 
uniquely individualist, yet fosters team comraderie.
  Wrestling teaches that, as in life, nothing serious can be 
accomplished without a work ethic. Above anything else, Dan Gable 
exemplifies the work ethic. In his career as a wrestler and coach, he 
stands as the apotheosis of American competitive values.
  On Sunday, November 14, the cable television channel HBO Signature 
will air a documentary on the career of Dan Gable entitled ``Freestyle: 
The victories of Dan Gable.''

                              {time}  1745

  It will introduce millions to this exemplary American athlete. I 
highly recommend young people in particular to watch this program with 
the understanding that excellence is a worthy goal, but it does not 
come easily.

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