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20 QUESTIONS WITH... Robbie Smith


Robbie Smith enjoyed a breakthrough season in Greco- Roman wrestling in 2013.


Smith bumped up a weight class this season and made his first United States World Team in Greco at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Smith, a California native, had previously competed at 96


kg/211.5 lbs.


Smith placed seventh in his first trip to the World Wrestling Championships on Sept. 22 at the Papp Laszlo Sports Arena in Budapest, Hungary.


Smith opened with a 3-1 win over Xiaoming Nie of China at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Smith pushed the pace and wore Nie down, putting it away with a second-period takedown. Smith charged out strong with an early three-point arm throw en route to defeating Iosif Chugoshvili of Belarus 5-0 in the sec- ond round. Chugoshvili was fifth in the 2012 Olympics. Smith then dropped a 7-0 quarterfinal match to World champi- on Riza Kayaalp of Turkey in the quarterfinals. Kayaalp hit two quick arm throws to end the match in the first minute. Smith was eliminated when Kayaalp lost in the semifinals. Smith took time out of his busy schedule to talk recently with USA Wrestler:


1. Favorite movie? Sandlot


2. Favorite TV show? How I Met Your Mother


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


I like to listen to all kinds of music. I really don't have a favorite.


4. Favorite food when not watching your weight? My dad’s enchiladas. They are amazing. 5. Favorite sport other than wrestling? Football. Raider Nation!


6. Favorite athlete to watch in another sport? Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson 7. Favorite wrestler and why?


Olympic gold medalist Momir Petkovic. Because of his com- mitment to the sport and to his athletes. 8. Best piece of advice you've received? Move up to 120 kg.


9. What kind of advice would you give a younger wrestler who is just taking up the sport? Learn all three styles of wrestling. 10. Best moment as a wrestler so far? Winning the World Team Trials this year. 11. Name three people you would love to invite to dinner? My grandfather. I never got the chance to meet him. 12. What is one thing you are afraid of? Scary movies.


13. How did you become involved in wrestling? My dad got me into it when I was 5.


14. How do you like being in the heavyweight class? It’s been great. I love it. 15. Any idea what you will do when you stop competing? I would love to coach. 16. What is the best part about training at the Olympic


Training Center? Everything. The food, the housing and the training are all


Robbie Smith finished seventh at the World Wrestling Championships in Greco-Roman wrestling on Sept. 22 in Budapest, Hungary. Smith was appearing in his first Senior World Championships in Greco. Larry Slater photo.


great.


17. What goals would you like to accomplish in your international wrestling career? Become a World and Olympic champion. 18. Coolest place you've traveled to? Cuba


19. What do you like about the Greco-Roman style of wrestling? It’s the best sport in the World. 20. Funniest guy on the team and why? Jesse Thielke, and just because.


21 USA Wrestler


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