Dan Gable, the legendary Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling coach and Olympic
Gable as a wrestler in high school and later for Iowa State University he amassed a 181-1 record, losing only once in his last NCCA championship final match as a senior. He won the Gold Medal in 1972 Olympic Summer Games in Munich without a single point scored against him. In Gable’s final 21 Olympic qualification and Olympic matches, he scored 12 falls and outscored his nine other opponents, 130-1.
As the University of Iowa’s all-time winningest coach from 1976 to 1997, Gable won 15 NCAA National Wrestling Team Titles while compiling a career record of 355-21-5, He coached 152 All-Americans, 45 National Champions, 106 Big Ten Champions and 12 Olympians, including four gold, one silver and three bronze medalists. The Hawkeyes won 25 consecutive Big Ten championships, 21 under Gable as head coach and four while he was an assistant coach and administrator. He had a winning percentage of .932 and captured nine consecutive (1978-86) NCAA Championships.
“I’ve worked hard my whole life. Over time, I’ve been able to add the word ‘smart’ to that hard work. I had to have a loss or a setback before I started having that ability, but I call it ‘the smartness of hard work.’ With these traits, I have been able to be at my best as an athlete, coach, and in my family for nearly my whole life.” Gable commented, “First District Congressman Rod Blum is all about these same principles. Working hard and in smart ways for the people. Rod did this with his life by growing up in a tough environment but using his determination to go to a very successful level in the business world. He is now applying that same mentality as he works for the United States of America in Congress.”
Blum added, “I am honored to have the support of Coach Dan Gable– a true American role model and a testament to the type of support which makes up my campaign.”