African American Olympians' biographies
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Ike Anderson, Greco-Roman, 1988 - Ike Anderson placed sixth at the Seoul Olympic Games. He also won a silver medal at the 1991 Pan American Games and three U.S. National Greco-Roman titles. Anderson was the head coach of the 1995 Pan American Games team and has been the USA Wrestling Greco-Roman Developmental Coach since 1998.
*Chris Campbell, Freestyle, 1980 & 1992 - Chris Campbell won two NCAA titles and three Big Ten crowns for the Hawkeyes in the 1970s. He was a member of the 1980 Olympic team and won a world freestyle crown in 1981. Then, after years of retirement, he made a remarkable comeback and won a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics.
Jimmy Carr, Freestyle, 1972 - Jimmy Carr made the 1972 Olympic team at the age of 17. He is to this day the youngest wrestler ever to represent the U.S. in the Olympics. While 16, Carr finished sixth for the U.S. at the 1971 world championships. Carr was an All-American for Kentucky in 1977 and was coached by his brother Fletcher.
*Nate Carr, Freestyle, 1988 - Nate Carr was a three-time NCAA champion for the Cyclones in the early 1980's. His last two titles were achieved via overtime wins over his greatest rival - Oklahoma State's Kenny Monday, an NCAA, world and Olympic champion. Carr was a bronze medalist at the 1988 Olympics.
Quincey Clark, Greco-Roman, 2000 - Quincey Clark represented the United States at the Sidney Olympic Games and two world championships, where he finished in the top ten on both occasions. He was a two-time NCAA All-American wrestling first for San Diego State and then Oklahoma. He was a runner-up for the Sooners in 1995.
Daniel Cormier, Freestyle, 2004 - Daniel Cormier finished fourth at the Athens Olympic games and captured at bronze medal at the 2006 world championships. He was an NCAA runner-up in 2001 for Oklahoma State and was junior college national champion in 1998 and 1999 for Colby Community College.
Bobby Douglas, Freestyle, 1964 & 1968 - Bobby Douglas was the first African American wrestler to represent the United States twice in the Olympics. He finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics and won world championship silver and bronze medals. He coached at the collegiate level for 33 years and won a team title at Arizona State in 1988. The most noteworthy accomplishment of his coaching career was Cael Sanderson. Douglas is the first African American inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
*Melvin Douglas, Freestyle, 1996 & 2000 - Melvin Douglas won back-to-back NCAA crowns in 1985 and 1986 at 177 pounds. He defeated Wayne Catan of Syracuse in both finals. He had a lengthy international career and represented the United States twice in the Olympics. Douglas was also a world freestyle champion in 1993.
Michial Foy, Greco-Roman, 1988 & 1992 - Michial Foy represented the United States at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics. He finished sixth in Barcelona and won a silver medal at the 1989 world championships. He was also a five-time National Greco-Roman champion and wrestled for the University of Minnesota.
Greg Gibson, Greco-Roman, 1984 - For Greg Gibson, the most versatile of athletes, wrestling success came in three styles and in three decades. In an international career that spanned 29 years, Gibson is the only American wrestler to win world medals in three international styles: Greco-Roman, freestyle and sombo. He was twice an NCAA runner-up wrestling for Oregon.
Wayne Holmes, Greco-Roman, 1972 - Wayne Holmes represented the United States at the Munich Olympic Games and the 1971 world championships in Greco-Roman wrestling. He was also a two-time National Greco-Roman champion.
*Jimmy Jackson, Freestyle, 1976 - Jimmy Jackson won three straight NCAA and Big Eight heavyweight titles from 1976 to 1978. He had a career record of 87-9-2 and holds the Cowboy record for the fastest fall in just 12 seconds. He also represented the United States at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.
Kevin Jackson, Freestyle, 1992 - Kevin Jackson won a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics and titles at the 1991 and 1995 world championships. He was as a runner-up at the 1987 NCAA tournament for Iowa State, when the Cyclones ended Iowa's nine year run at the top. He is currently the head freestyle coach for USA Wrestling.
Lloyd Keaser, Freestyle, 1976 - Lloyd Keaser used an outstanding collegiate career, which included two All-America medals at the Naval Academy, to launch an even more outstanding freestyle career. His crowning achievements were a freestyle world championship in 1973, for which he was voted amateur wrestling's Man of the Year, and an Olympic silver medal in 1976 at Montreal.
Jamill Kelly, Freestyle, 2004 - Although he was never an All-American while wrestling for Oklahoma State, Jamill Kelly captured a silver medal at the Athens Olympic Games in freestyle wrestling. Kelly was also a 2003 U.S. National champion and represented the U.S. at the 2003 world championships in New York City.
*Leroy Kemp, Freestyle, 1980 - A referees' split decision loss to Iowa's Chuck Yagla in the 1975 NCAA final prevented Lee Kemp from becoming the first four-time NCAA champion. Kemp also had an outstanding international career and was a three-time world champion. Kemp made the 1980 Olympic team and was an overwhelming favorite to win gold, until President Carter's boycott.
Buddy Lee, Greco-Roman, 1992 - Buddy Lee finished sixth at the Barcelona Olympic Games in Greco-Roman wrestling. It capped a career that included two All-American finishes at Old Dominion, three U.S. National Greco-Roman championships and two top ten finishes at the world championships. Lee also fashioned a worldwide reputation with his jump rope skills, which he has displayed in exhibitions for presidents and world leaders.
Pete Lee, Greco-Roman, 1976 - Pete Lee finished fifth in heavyweight at the Montreal Olympic Games. He scored a major upset in the first round of the competition by pinning four-time world champion Alexandre Tomov of Bulgaria. Lee also placed at the 1977 and 1982 world championships.
John Matthews, Greco-Roman, 1976 & 1980 - John Matthews was a two-time Olympian and a 1979 Pan American Games gold medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling. He also represented the United States four times at the world championships and finished fourth in 1978. Matthews was a three-time U.S. National Greco-Roman champion.
Steven Mays, Greco-Roman, 2000 - Steven Mays competed for the United States at the 2000 Olympics and 1999 world championships. It is a measure of his persistence and determination that Mays reached the ultimate goal for a wrestler at the age of 33. He also won a U.S. National Greco-Roman title in 1999.
*Kerry McCoy, Freestyle, 2000 & 2004 - Kerry McCoy was the most successful wrestler in a century of competition at Penn State. He placed first twice and third at the NCAA tournament. He was a member of the 2000 and 2004 Olympic teams and won a silver medal at the 2003 world championships. He is currently the head coach at Stanford.
*Kenny Monday, Freestyle, 1988, '92, '96 - At the Seoul Olympics, Kenny Monday became the first African American to win an Olympic gold medal in wrestling. He also won a world championship in 1989 and a silver medal in Barcelona. He was an NCAA champion in 1984 and a runner-up in 1982 and 1983.
Toccara Montgomery, Women, 2004 - Toccara Montgomery is the first and only African American woman to represent the United States at the Olympics in wrestling. She also won silver medals at the 2001 and 2003 world championships and was a four-time U.S. National champion.
Robert Pickens, Greco-Roman, 1964 - Robert Pickens, who placed sixth in heavyweight at the Tokyo Olympic Games, was the first African American to represent the U.S. at the Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling. He played football for University of Nebraska and the Chicago Bears.
Townsend Saunders, Freestyle, 1992 & 1996 - Townsend "Junior" Saunders won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics and finished seventh in 1992. He was a two-time NCAA All-American for Arizona State and finished second in 1989. His wife Tricia was a four-time world champion.
Shawn Sheldon, Greco-Roman, 1988 & 1992 - Shawn Sheldon was a two-time Olympian who narrowly missed medaling in 1992, when he finished fourth. During his career he won a silver medal at the 1991 world championships, an NCAA Division III title for SUNY-Albany and nine U.S. National Greco-Roman champions.
Rodney Smith, Greco-Roman, 1992 & 1996 - Rodney Smith competed at both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics and won a bronze medal in Barcelona. He medaled in 1992 despite fracturing the fourth and fifth vertebrae in his back during Olympic competition. Smith was also a two-time NCAA Division III All-American at Western New England College.
Charles Tribble, Freestyle, 1964 - In 1964, Charles Tribble, along with Bobby Douglas and Bob Pickens, became the first African Americans to wrestle for the U.S. in the Olympic Games. He also finished third for Arizona State at 177 pounds at the 1965 NCAA tournament and won the trophy for the most falls in the least time.
Derrick Waldroup, Greco-Roman, 1996 - Derrick Waldroup capped a long wrestling career by representing the United States at the Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games at the age of 33. He was a four-time U.S. National Greco-Roman champion, competed at two world championships and won a junior college national championship for Triton College.
Travis West, Greco-Roman, 1992 - Travis West competed for the United States in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Barcelona Olympic Games. He was also a NCAA Division II champion while at Portland State. West passed away at the age of 37 in 2004 from a rare liver disease that also claimed Walter Payton's life.
*Joe Williams, Freestyle, 2004 - Joe Williams won three straight NCAA titles from 1996 to 1998 and was named Outstanding Wrestler of the 1998 tournament. He was also a two-time Big Ten champion and finished fourth at the 2004 Olympics. He and his sibling T.J. are the only African American brother combination to win NCAA titles.
* NCAA Champion
© 2008
National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum
*Chris Campbell, Freestyle, 1980 & 1992 - Chris Campbell won two NCAA titles and three Big Ten crowns for the Hawkeyes in the 1970s. He was a member of the 1980 Olympic team and won a world freestyle crown in 1981. Then, after years of retirement, he made a remarkable comeback and won a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics.
Jimmy Carr, Freestyle, 1972 - Jimmy Carr made the 1972 Olympic team at the age of 17. He is to this day the youngest wrestler ever to represent the U.S. in the Olympics. While 16, Carr finished sixth for the U.S. at the 1971 world championships. Carr was an All-American for Kentucky in 1977 and was coached by his brother Fletcher.
*Nate Carr, Freestyle, 1988 - Nate Carr was a three-time NCAA champion for the Cyclones in the early 1980's. His last two titles were achieved via overtime wins over his greatest rival - Oklahoma State's Kenny Monday, an NCAA, world and Olympic champion. Carr was a bronze medalist at the 1988 Olympics.
Quincey Clark, Greco-Roman, 2000 - Quincey Clark represented the United States at the Sidney Olympic Games and two world championships, where he finished in the top ten on both occasions. He was a two-time NCAA All-American wrestling first for San Diego State and then Oklahoma. He was a runner-up for the Sooners in 1995.
Daniel Cormier, Freestyle, 2004 - Daniel Cormier finished fourth at the Athens Olympic games and captured at bronze medal at the 2006 world championships. He was an NCAA runner-up in 2001 for Oklahoma State and was junior college national champion in 1998 and 1999 for Colby Community College.
Bobby Douglas, Freestyle, 1964 & 1968 - Bobby Douglas was the first African American wrestler to represent the United States twice in the Olympics. He finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics and won world championship silver and bronze medals. He coached at the collegiate level for 33 years and won a team title at Arizona State in 1988. The most noteworthy accomplishment of his coaching career was Cael Sanderson. Douglas is the first African American inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
*Melvin Douglas, Freestyle, 1996 & 2000 - Melvin Douglas won back-to-back NCAA crowns in 1985 and 1986 at 177 pounds. He defeated Wayne Catan of Syracuse in both finals. He had a lengthy international career and represented the United States twice in the Olympics. Douglas was also a world freestyle champion in 1993.
Michial Foy, Greco-Roman, 1988 & 1992 - Michial Foy represented the United States at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics. He finished sixth in Barcelona and won a silver medal at the 1989 world championships. He was also a five-time National Greco-Roman champion and wrestled for the University of Minnesota.
Greg Gibson, Greco-Roman, 1984 - For Greg Gibson, the most versatile of athletes, wrestling success came in three styles and in three decades. In an international career that spanned 29 years, Gibson is the only American wrestler to win world medals in three international styles: Greco-Roman, freestyle and sombo. He was twice an NCAA runner-up wrestling for Oregon.
Wayne Holmes, Greco-Roman, 1972 - Wayne Holmes represented the United States at the Munich Olympic Games and the 1971 world championships in Greco-Roman wrestling. He was also a two-time National Greco-Roman champion.
*Jimmy Jackson, Freestyle, 1976 - Jimmy Jackson won three straight NCAA and Big Eight heavyweight titles from 1976 to 1978. He had a career record of 87-9-2 and holds the Cowboy record for the fastest fall in just 12 seconds. He also represented the United States at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.
Kevin Jackson, Freestyle, 1992 - Kevin Jackson won a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics and titles at the 1991 and 1995 world championships. He was as a runner-up at the 1987 NCAA tournament for Iowa State, when the Cyclones ended Iowa's nine year run at the top. He is currently the head freestyle coach for USA Wrestling.
Lloyd Keaser, Freestyle, 1976 - Lloyd Keaser used an outstanding collegiate career, which included two All-America medals at the Naval Academy, to launch an even more outstanding freestyle career. His crowning achievements were a freestyle world championship in 1973, for which he was voted amateur wrestling's Man of the Year, and an Olympic silver medal in 1976 at Montreal.
Jamill Kelly, Freestyle, 2004 - Although he was never an All-American while wrestling for Oklahoma State, Jamill Kelly captured a silver medal at the Athens Olympic Games in freestyle wrestling. Kelly was also a 2003 U.S. National champion and represented the U.S. at the 2003 world championships in New York City.
*Leroy Kemp, Freestyle, 1980 - A referees' split decision loss to Iowa's Chuck Yagla in the 1975 NCAA final prevented Lee Kemp from becoming the first four-time NCAA champion. Kemp also had an outstanding international career and was a three-time world champion. Kemp made the 1980 Olympic team and was an overwhelming favorite to win gold, until President Carter's boycott.
Buddy Lee, Greco-Roman, 1992 - Buddy Lee finished sixth at the Barcelona Olympic Games in Greco-Roman wrestling. It capped a career that included two All-American finishes at Old Dominion, three U.S. National Greco-Roman championships and two top ten finishes at the world championships. Lee also fashioned a worldwide reputation with his jump rope skills, which he has displayed in exhibitions for presidents and world leaders.
Pete Lee, Greco-Roman, 1976 - Pete Lee finished fifth in heavyweight at the Montreal Olympic Games. He scored a major upset in the first round of the competition by pinning four-time world champion Alexandre Tomov of Bulgaria. Lee also placed at the 1977 and 1982 world championships.
John Matthews, Greco-Roman, 1976 & 1980 - John Matthews was a two-time Olympian and a 1979 Pan American Games gold medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling. He also represented the United States four times at the world championships and finished fourth in 1978. Matthews was a three-time U.S. National Greco-Roman champion.
Steven Mays, Greco-Roman, 2000 - Steven Mays competed for the United States at the 2000 Olympics and 1999 world championships. It is a measure of his persistence and determination that Mays reached the ultimate goal for a wrestler at the age of 33. He also won a U.S. National Greco-Roman title in 1999.
*Kerry McCoy, Freestyle, 2000 & 2004 - Kerry McCoy was the most successful wrestler in a century of competition at Penn State. He placed first twice and third at the NCAA tournament. He was a member of the 2000 and 2004 Olympic teams and won a silver medal at the 2003 world championships. He is currently the head coach at Stanford.
*Kenny Monday, Freestyle, 1988, '92, '96 - At the Seoul Olympics, Kenny Monday became the first African American to win an Olympic gold medal in wrestling. He also won a world championship in 1989 and a silver medal in Barcelona. He was an NCAA champion in 1984 and a runner-up in 1982 and 1983.
Toccara Montgomery, Women, 2004 - Toccara Montgomery is the first and only African American woman to represent the United States at the Olympics in wrestling. She also won silver medals at the 2001 and 2003 world championships and was a four-time U.S. National champion.
Robert Pickens, Greco-Roman, 1964 - Robert Pickens, who placed sixth in heavyweight at the Tokyo Olympic Games, was the first African American to represent the U.S. at the Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling. He played football for University of Nebraska and the Chicago Bears.
Townsend Saunders, Freestyle, 1992 & 1996 - Townsend "Junior" Saunders won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics and finished seventh in 1992. He was a two-time NCAA All-American for Arizona State and finished second in 1989. His wife Tricia was a four-time world champion.
Shawn Sheldon, Greco-Roman, 1988 & 1992 - Shawn Sheldon was a two-time Olympian who narrowly missed medaling in 1992, when he finished fourth. During his career he won a silver medal at the 1991 world championships, an NCAA Division III title for SUNY-Albany and nine U.S. National Greco-Roman champions.
Rodney Smith, Greco-Roman, 1992 & 1996 - Rodney Smith competed at both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics and won a bronze medal in Barcelona. He medaled in 1992 despite fracturing the fourth and fifth vertebrae in his back during Olympic competition. Smith was also a two-time NCAA Division III All-American at Western New England College.
Charles Tribble, Freestyle, 1964 - In 1964, Charles Tribble, along with Bobby Douglas and Bob Pickens, became the first African Americans to wrestle for the U.S. in the Olympic Games. He also finished third for Arizona State at 177 pounds at the 1965 NCAA tournament and won the trophy for the most falls in the least time.
Derrick Waldroup, Greco-Roman, 1996 - Derrick Waldroup capped a long wrestling career by representing the United States at the Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games at the age of 33. He was a four-time U.S. National Greco-Roman champion, competed at two world championships and won a junior college national championship for Triton College.
Travis West, Greco-Roman, 1992 - Travis West competed for the United States in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Barcelona Olympic Games. He was also a NCAA Division II champion while at Portland State. West passed away at the age of 37 in 2004 from a rare liver disease that also claimed Walter Payton's life.
*Joe Williams, Freestyle, 2004 - Joe Williams won three straight NCAA titles from 1996 to 1998 and was named Outstanding Wrestler of the 1998 tournament. He was also a two-time Big Ten champion and finished fourth at the 2004 Olympics. He and his sibling T.J. are the only African American brother combination to win NCAA titles.
* NCAA Champion
© 2008
National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum
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