Wrestlers' Corner: Tough Guys

Well, you know about summer camps and training programs. You also know about competitions, such as Cadet and Junior Freestyle and Greco Nationals at Fargo. But what about the day to day activities of the elite athlete?

A couple overriding details of the top athletes: 1. They like to challenge themselves; 2. They never get completely out of shape.

From my conversations with athletes ranging from Olympic Gold Medalists such as John Smith, to National Champ Dustin Schlatter and Runner-up Ryan Lang, I see a repeated pattern: these athletes train, in the non-winter months, at a level equal to or greater than most train during the peak time of the wrestling season.
And of course, during that time, these athletes ramp it up even more. To put it another way: these guys run and lift in the off season as a part of their lifestyle - and many of them don't even consider it a workout unless they are on the mats. Olympic Gold Medalist John Smith once told me that he only took off about 5 days a year, every year from the time he was a small child, until he won the gold medal. And - if he 'only ran and lifted', it didn't count as a workout. Kind of puts it in perspective, doesn't it? Iowa legend Dan Gable disappeared moments after a national championship match. When someone asked where he was, they were told he was out running, training for the upcoming Olympic Trials.

I can always tell the athletes that 'have it', from those who aren't quite on that level. When attending my Intensive Training Camp, those that 'have it', embrace the tough training and the mental and physical test that goes with it. This camp has been said to be the toughest camp in the nation - and many athletes don't want that kind of challenge. But those who do, recognize what it does for them and how it trains them for the future.

The Elite athletes challenge themselves - and therefore welcome challenges presented to them - not just during the season, but other times of the year as well.