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20 QUESTIONS WITH... Ellis Coleman


Ellis Coleman earned his share of national attention after his “Flying Squirrel” move became a fixture on ESPN’s SportsCenter.


Coleman, 21, also enjoyed a strong season where he com- peted in the 2012 Olympic Games in Greco-Roman wrestling at 60 kg/132 lbs. in London. Coleman, a two-time Junior World bronze medalist, is one of the bright young stars on the U.S. Greco-Roman Team. He dropped down a weight class during the 2011-12 season, capturing titles at the Sunkist Kids and New York Athletic Club tournaments.


Coleman, who competes for the New York AC, also placed second at the FILA Pan American Olympic Qualifier in Florida to qualify his weight class for the Olympic Games. Coleman took time out of his busy schedule to talk recently


with USA Wrestler: 1. Favorite movie? Anything with Kevin Hart. 2. Favorite TV show? Glee


3. What kind of music do you listen to in your iPod before you compete?


I listen to Drake, 2 Chainz and DMX.


4. Favorite food when not watching your weight? Chipotle


5. Favorite sport other than wrestling? Football


6. Favorite athlete to watch in another sport? Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III 7. Favorite wrestler and why? John Smith. He’s the best ever, and I like his style of wrestling.


8. Best piece of advice you've received? Best advice ever was from my high school coach, Mike Powell. He gave me a speech before the Olympic Trials and told me to be grateful for every opportunity. It helped me get through the tournament.


9. What kind of advice would you give a younger wrestler who is just taking up the sport? Put in a lot of time. There isn’t an off season. I gained so much experience from summer matches and camps every year. 10. Best moment as a wrestler so far? Winning the Olympic Trials. 11. Name three people you would love to invite to dinner? Drake, Mark Wahlberg and Usain Bolt 12. What is one thing you are afraid of? Most dogs


13. How did you become involved in wrestling? My stepdad put my brother and I in wrestling when I was 11 because we were just sitting around the house playing video games.


14. What was the best part of your Olympic experience? Watching Jordan Burroughs win his gold medal. 15. What was it like to gain national recognition for your Flying Squirrel move? It was awesome. Being a wrestler, I never thought that I would ever in my life be on ESPN. Being the top play as well made it even better.


Ellis Coleman has emerged as one of the bright young stars on the U.S. Greco-Roman Team. Coleman enjoyed a banner season where he won two international events and made his first U.S. Olympic Team. Larry Slater photo.


16. Any idea what you will do when your competitive career is over?


I want to be a UFC fighter. If that doesn’t go through, I would like to be an actor.


17. What do you do to pass the time during a long road trip?


Play Xbox, or bother the people that are with me for self- enjoyment.


18. Coolest place you've traveled to and why? Cuba. They still have a lot of old tradition and the weather and wrestling experience there is always awesome. 19. What does the future hold for you in wrestling? Medals


20. Funniest guy on the team and why? Dremiel Byers. He’s kind of old school, and he has his own way and style of going about everything. And he intimidates everyone.


21 USA Wrestler


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