Dave Schultz (amateur wrestler)
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- This article is about the amateur wrestler. For others, see David Schultz.
| Olympic medal record | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's freestyle wrestling | |||
| Gold | 1984 Los Angeles | Welterweight | |
David Leslie Schultz (June 6, 1959 - January 26, 1996) was an Olympic and World champion freestyle wrestler. Regarded as a tireless competitor and supreme tactician on the mat, he was beloved throughout the world of amateur wrestling for his friendliness and eagerness to lend help or advice to team-mates and opponents alike.
Born in Palo Alto, California, he would win both his first national and his first international titles in 1977 – the same year he had become a state champion as a senior at Palo Alto High School. As a collegiate Schultz was a three-time NCAA All-American, first at Oklahoma State University and then twice at the University of Oklahoma. In 1982, he was the 167-pound weight class NCAA Champion.
Dave Schultz would go on to win 10 Senior National titles (eight in Freestyle and two in Greco-Roman); he accomplished this over a 19 year span, at three weight divisions: 149.9 lb, 163 lb and 180.5 lb. In international competition, Schultz won a 1983 World Championship and then a 1984 Olympic gold medal. He won four World Cup and two Pan American Games titles, and was twice champion at the prestigious tournament in Tbilisi, Georgia. In all, he was a seven-time World and Olympic medalist. Together, Dave and his brother Mark Schultz were the first American brothers to each win gold medals in the same Olympics, and likewise the first to win World and Olympic Championships.
At various times, he also served as an assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma, Stanford University, and the University of Wisconsin.
Training for another Olympic bid and coaching the private Team Foxcatcher squad in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, Dave Schultz was shot and killed on January 26, 1996 by the team's sponsor, John E. DuPont. Heir to the DuPont chemical industry fortune, DuPont had exhibited bizarre and threatening behavior over the preceding weeks. He was eventually found guilty of Schultz's murder, but the charge was reduced to the third degree by reason of insanity. Dave Schultz was 36 years old at the time of his death.
Dave Schultz was buried in Ashland, Oregon. His surviving family included his wife, Nancy; his son, Alexander; his daughter, Danielle; two brothers, a sister, and both of his parents. In 1997, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member.
[edit] Athletic achievements
- 1982 NCAA Division I Champion, 167 lb class
- 1983 Senior Freestyle world champion, 163 lb
- 1984 Olympic gold medalist, 163.1 lb
- 1986 Goodwill Games gold medalist
- 1994 Goodwill Games silver medalist
- Seven-time USA Senior Freestyle champion (1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995; all except 1988 (180.5 lb) at 163 lb)
- Five-time World Cup champion (1980, 1982, 1985, 1994, 1995)
- Two-time Pan American Games champion (1977 (Greco-Roman), 1987(Freestyle))
- Three-time AAU National Champion (1977 GR, 1981 FS, 1982 GR)
- Three-time NCAA Division I all-American (1978, 1981, 1982)
- Two-Time Tbilisi Champion (1984, 1991)
- Two-time Olympic Festival Champion (1985, 1987)
- Two-time Sunkist International Champion (1989, 1990)
- Three-time DeGlane Challenge Champion (1983, 1990, 1991)
- Three-time World silver medalist, 163 lb (1985, 1987, 1993)
- Two-time World Bronze medalist (1982, 1986)
[edit] Sources/External links
- Dave Schultz at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame
- The Dave Schultz Wrestling Club, founded in his memory by Nancy Schultz
- Palo Alto Weekly obituary, with recollections of Schultz as a youth - January 31, 1996
- Washington Post obituary
- Sports Illustrated article by Rick Reilly on the 1996 U.S. Olympic wrestling team drawing inspiration from the memory of Dave Schultz and the presence of his wife and children at the Atlanta Games
