20 QUESTIONS WITH... Obe Blanc
Obe Blanc has emerged as a wrestler who is expected to contend for a medal at the 2013 World Championships. Blanc has made his second U.S. World Team in freestyle wrestling at 55 kg/121 lbs. and he will shoot for a spot on the podium at September’s Worlds in Budapest, Hungary. Blanc advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2010 Worlds in Moscow, Russia before finishing ninth. Blanc earned NCAA All-American honors at Lock Haven before completing his collegiate career at Oklahoma State, where he continues to train.
The 28-year-old Blanc took time out of his busy schedule to
talk recently with USA Wrestler: 1. Favorite movie? Last of the Mohicans 2. Favorite TV show? Breakout Kings
3. What kind of music do you listen to in your iPod before you compete?
Some kind of Hip-Hop mixes with a lot of Rick Ross in it. 4. Favorite food when not watching your weight? Anything Caribbean or Latin American, Haitian, Jamaican, Cuban, Mexican.
5. Favorite sport other than wrestling? Football and badminton.
6. Favorite athlete to watch in another sport? Boxer Floyd Mayweather, his excellence in mental and physi- cal prep is top-notch and inspirational. 7. Favorite wrestler and why? USA: Cary Kolat – Mentally tough and trains like a madman. Foreign: Mavlet Batirov - His defense is the best I’ve seen and I picked up my single leg from watching him. 8. Best piece of advice you've received? Champions always score in critical moments of a match – Eric Guerrero
9. What kind of advice would you give a younger wrestler who is just taking up the sport? You have to earn the right to win – John Smith 10. Best moment as a wrestler so far? Winning the World Team Trials in the same place (Gallagher-
Iba Arena) where I train every day – in front of the people that support me along the way. 11. Name three people you would love to invite to dinner? Eva Mendes three times
12. What is one thing you are afraid of? Salmonella…
13. How did you become involved in wrestling? During my sophomore year, my P.E. teacher Mr. Andretti told me I could have the rest of the class period to do whatever I wanted if I would just go to wrestling practice at the end of the school…three days later, I won my first wrestling match ever and was hooked.
14. What did you learn during your first trip to the Worlds?
First trip, I was an alternate and learned that I never wanted to be an alternate again, the next year I made the team. 15. Any idea what you will do when you stop competing? Either go into coaching or business, as well as help start wrestling programs in Haiti.
Veteran Obe Blanc is looking for his first World medal in men’s freestyle wrestling after landing a spot on his sec- ond U.S. World Team. Tony Rotundo photo.
16. What is the best part about training at Oklahoma State?
The coaching staff is second to none, never having to worry about the quality of training partners, and the expectations are always high.
17. What are your goals for international wrestling? To be the best in the best in the World at 55 kg. 18. Coolest place you've traveled to and why? Cuba, it’s tropical and not too many people get a chance to get into that country.
19. What do you like about freestyle wrestling? Freestyle fits my style of wrestling best with quick scores and exposures, plus no riding. Most of the match is in the neutral position.
20. Funniest guy on the team and why? Keith Gavin. He can always spin a serious situation into a comical relief with little effort and tends to surprise you with what he says.
21 USA Wrestler
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