My Hero, Dave Schultz

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My Hero, Dave Schultz
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Dave Schultz was an accomplished wrestler,
winning everything there is to win!Won his first
Senior National title, the 1977 AAU Nationals in
Greco-Roman, as a high school senior. 1982 NCAA
Champion for the Univ. of Oklahoma Second in
1981 World University Games 1977 Pan American
Championships Greco-Roman champion 1977
California state champion for Palo Alto High
School 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)
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I first met Dave through his brother Mark in 1979
when I was in High School. By this time Dave had
won both National and International Titles and
was considered the Nations most outstanding prep
wrestler. I was impressed by Dave from the very
beginning. Not only did he have a great sense of
humor he was also a kindhearted and sincere
person who was unassuming yet dynamic in his own
way. He had no ego and was always willing to put
others first. It never mattered to Dave who you
were, or how important you were. He was very
self-effacing, very humble. He made everybody
feel like they were his friend."
Mark Dave Me
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Mark, Daves younger and extremely athletic
brother followed Dave and also went on to claim
the 1984 Olympic Gold Medal as well as 2 World
Titles. He was also a 3-time NCAA Champion for
Oklahoma.
Dave celebrating Marks first of 3 NCAA Titles.
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Thats Cool
In 1978 Mark convinced me to quit my job and sell
my prized pick up truck and spend the summer
wrestling with him in Newport Beach California
and then attend a Training Camp in Squaw Valley
that was also training the World Team. When I got
to Mark and Daves dads home in Palo Alto I was
told that I was to sleep in Daves bed. The room
was full of wrestling awards, trophies and even a
bear skin cape that Dave was given as a gift on
his first trip to Russia. But it was upon going
to bed that first night of my visit that my life
was first influenced by Dave. Hanging on the wall
beside Daves bed was an 8th grade wrestling
certificate (Daves first award). Written on the
certificate in Daves handwriting I will be an
Olympic Champion.
I
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It would be six years until Daves goal would
materialize. I was 17. A time where most young
men will try anything from drugs to how they
dress to be or act cool. When I saw Daves goal I
got moved. A decision was cemented for me and I
thought Now, thats whats cool.
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Dave always joked that he had no social life and
was kind of a nerd. The truth is that Dave had
more best friends than anyone I have ever known.
He was extremely popular in Russia where he first
made an appearance as a high school student
placing 2nd in Tbilisi, the worlds toughest
tournament. One important thing I learned from
Dave through his example was not to overly focus
on having a social life and being overly
concerned about being popular.
Instead be true to yourself. Focus on your
passions and mastering something significant. Do
something with your life. In turn you will
attract true like minded friendships.
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In 1983 Dave was the only American to win a Gold
Medal in the World Championships.
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Me My High School
Coach Dave

On a few occasions I got one on one clinic time
with Dave. If you play basketball, this would be
like having a one on one time with Michael Jordan.
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Remember the jingle, I wanna be like Mike?
Well, there were some of us that wanted to Be
like Dave.
Dave applies his famous front head lock position.
We copied that too.
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In 1984 at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles
Daves goal materialized in splendor.

.
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Together, Dave and his brother were the first
American brothers to each win gold medals in the
same Olympics, and likewise the only American
brothers to win World and Olympic Championships.
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Dave and Mark were featured in a Sports
Illustrated article. Here is an example of
Schultz humor. (Daves wife, Nancy is the
referee).
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After winning the 1984 Olympic Gold medal, Dave
became Americas true Ambassador of his sport.
Dave and Mark meet with President Ronald Regan
and first lady Nancy Regan at the White House.
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In our home town of Ashland Oregon, Dave and
Mark were featured in the news paper. Home town
boys do well! Before the picture was taken Dave
placed his Olympic medal around my neck, so Mark
made me wear his sunglasses. More Schultz humor.
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The home town boy had come along way. Stories are
told of Dave as an elementary school kid riding
around town on a girls bike, knee pads on the
handle bars wearing a singlet , looking for
someone to wrestle.
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A Christmas Dinner with the Schultzs.
My daughter, Veronica
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Newtown Square Pennsylvania home of John DuPont
Team Foxcatcher
The beginning of the end.
Eccentric Millionaire John DuPont hires Dave to
coach Foxcatcher Wrestling Club. John builds a
state of the art practice facility on his estate.
Dave moves his family also to the estate to coach
and train for his 3rd Olympics.
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One cold January day I was surprised to see my
wife in tears, as I came out of the West Linn gym
after wrestling practice. She then told me the
news.
Dave Schultz was shot and killed on January 26,
1996 by the team's sponsor, John E, DuPont. A
member of the DuPont family, DuPont had exhibited
bizarre and threatening behavior preceding the
murder. At the trial, neither the prosecution nor
the defense suggested a motivation for the crime.
A jury rejected DuPont's request to be found not
guilty by reason of insanity, and he was found
guilty but mentally ill.
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Dave was shot and murdered in front of his
cottage on the estate while working on his car in
the drive way.
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After the murder of Dave John Du Pont refused to
surrender to the police, and held them off for
two days. Finally police arrested him on January
28 when he left the house to repair his heating
system. Du Pont had complained that his house was
cold and asked for permission to go outside to
repair his boilers. What he did not know was that
the police had turned off the heat in an attempt
to lure him out of the house. Within a few
minutes the SWAT team had him under arrest.
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DuPont was sentenced by Judge Patricia Jenkins to
13-30 years incarceration.
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The Olympics went on with out our most prized
representative. Daves wife Nancy was asked to
carry the Olympic torch in his memory
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Sports Illustrated Magazine also responded to the
tragedy
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Dave is my hero. But not just because of his
accomplishments. But because he was real. He
was someone who modeled. He was a walking example
of-
You get out of life what you put into it!
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I was honored when Daves mom asked me to speak
at one of Daves several memorials held around
the world
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As a young adolescent Dave suffered from morbid
obesity, and was often bullied at school by
classmates for his weight and appearance.
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Dave was also considered poor by some, often
wearing the same clothes for several days in a
row..
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He also suffered from dyslexia which many of his
teachers mistook for mental retardation.
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Dave overcame those obstacles and
achieved greatness.
The obese kid became a world class athlete.
The poor kid never worked a real job in his life,
yet was financially secure.
The dyslexic kid graduated with a Masters degree
and taught himself how to speak fluent Russian.
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That is why Dave is my Hero.
Do you have obstacles to overcome?
Do you have a dream of greatness or a desire to
do something special?
Are you sincere about whats right verses whats
popular?
Then maybe Dave can be a role model for you also
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By his own admission, Schultz "wasn't the
greatest athlete in wrestling," but he was one of
the most intelligent wrestlers in the history of
the sport. Schultz once told one of his mentors,
"I cheated! I learned HOW to wrestle." And thus
he was a winner all his life.. For all of his
achievements on the mat, Schultz is best known as
wrestling's greatest friend and diplomat, across
the nation and around the world. He always had
time to talk, he always wore a smile. His
sportsmanship transcended national boundaries. He
learned Russian so that he could communicate with
other wrestlers, and he named his son Alexander,
after a friendly rival in the USSR. As a true
champion on and off the mats, and the most-loved
international ambassador for peace and friendship
the wrestling world has ever known, David L.
Schultz is honored as a Distinguished Member of
the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

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Dave, we miss you
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Watch Dave win his Olympic Gold Medal
http//www.youtube.com/watch?vWRysH6Md6igfeature
related
Dave is interviewed after the 1984 Olympics
http//www.youtube.com/watch?vZwXDxEGXnsMfeature
related
Dave Pins his way through the 1987 Senior
Nationals. Watch the Finals match.
http//www.youtube.com/watch?vGbOgIvynRbYfeature
related
Watch Dave win the 1987 Tbilisi Tournament.
Outstanding!
http//www.youtube.com/watch?vlsdEH_1q-2Y