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2016 U.S. OLYMPIAN - 130 kg GR Smith to bring his big throws to Rio by Gary Abbott


There are a lot of reasons that Robby Smith is one of the most popular wrestlers in the world. First, there’s ‘The Beard,’ his signature look that is very rec- ognizable whenever he steps on the mat. Then, there are the red, white and blue American flag socks which he rocks at the major competitions. Then there is his stature, often much shorter and stouter than some of his opponents. But really, the reason Smith is so popu- lar all around the world is his spirit, a pos- itive attitude, exuberant joy and never- quit approach to Greco-Roman wrestling. It is never boring when Robby Smith steps out on the mat for a heavyweight match, because Robby Smith does not allow that to happen. Just rewind to the 2015 World Championships bronze medal match, when Smith got behind World medalist Bilyal Makhov of Russia, 0-7, then stormed back to make it a close match. He threw the massive Makhov a few times and tired him out. Although Makhov won 10-8, he slumped on the mat, entire- ly spent. Meanwhile, Smith was still fired up, and received thunderous applause from wrestling fans around the world. “It was a spectacle and I loved it. I love the people behind me. I love the chanti- ng. That whole thing got me going. When I saw him on his knees so tired, that I kicked his butt so bad that he doesn’t get up, I thought ‘I’ve got to get up’ and thank my crowd. That’s what I did,” he said When asked about his style of wrestling, Smith is very honest and direct. “Wrestling is fun. I love wrestling. I love locking my hands around people and throwing them on their heads. That’s what I love to do. That’s what I get to do for a living,” Smith said.


Fast forward to the U.S. Olympic Team


Trials in Iowa City, when Robby Smith set his mind on achieving a life-long goal, earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. A member of the last three U.S. World Teams, Smith has been close to winning a World medal two times, placing fifth at both the 2013 and 2015 World Championships. Deep in his heart, Smith believes he can be Olympic champion. To get that chance, he had to survive the challenge of making the Olympic Team. In Iowa City, Smith was all business. Because he did not win a medal at the 2015 World Championships, Smith was in


16 USA Wrestler


the Challenge Tournament as the top seed. He didn’t need much time to earn a spot in the finals, scoring a 39 second fall over Patrick Carey, then dispatching Jacob Mitchell in an 8-0 technical fall. In the media mixed zone, where Smith is known to hold court for a long time at most events, he said his piece and quick- ly got out of there.


“So far so good. One match at a time. Focus. Get it done and make this team. I just need to keep wrestling like I am wrestling and I will get it done.” he said. The finals opponent was young Adam Coon, the 2014 Junior World bronze medalist and two-time NCAA All- American from Michigan. Unlike Smith, Coon is a massive man and very tall. Coon won the 2016 U.S. Open in Las Vegas to set himself up as a top chal- lenger to Smith. His 10-0 technical fall over 2015 World Team Trials runner-up Toby Erickson at Trials proved that Coon truly deserved his chance to try to beat Smith and go to the Rio Games. Smith won the first match of the series, 4-1. When he came out on the raised mat for the second match, the Olympic dream was right there for him to take. And like Robby Smith has shown time and time again, he does not hesitate. Just three seconds into the match, Smith launched Coon with an arm throw, getting the maximum five points, for a quick 5-0 lead. Not long after, when he drove Coon out of bounds, he received a caution and two points for an early 7-0 lead. That was all she wrote. The match ended 7-2, and Robby Smith was going to Rio.


When the whistle blew, Robby kneeled down on the mat and pointed both index fingers to the sky to the loud applause of the crowd. He hugged his Coach Mark Halvorson, who was his club coach in high school and has been in his corner all the way through his Senior career. When escorted to his NBC interview with John Smith and Jason Knapp, he was both laughing and crying, all at the same time. “Amazing. Holy, I have wanted this my whole life. I have wanted this my whole entire life. This is a dream come true. Oh my gosh, I’m going to the Olympics,” he said.


Smith asked him about that arm throw on the whistle, the move which anybody who watched the Olympic Trials will remember for a very long time. It was


Robby Smith pumps his fist in cele- bration after his U.S. Olympic Trials victory at 130 kg in Iowa City. Tony Rotundo photo.


perfect Robby Smith stuff.


“My coach Halvorson told me he is going to come hard, he will hit hard with that collar tie. If you feel it, you pull the trigger. And I pulled the trigger so hard,” said Smith.


And the self-belief and positive attitude that makes him such a special athlete poured out when asked about Rio. “I have way more to do. I want to be on the top of that podium. This is just the first step. My coach Momir Petkovic told me this is just one step of many. We still have work to do. I got the job done and I’m going to Rio, baby,” he said. And how does Robby Smith approach the Olympic Trials? How does he approach life? “I let it fly, I let it fly. I have always said it, I love to throw guys on their head. That’s what I do. And that is what I did today,” he said.


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