Professional wrestling and the Olympics have never really had a close marriage, per say. Many of the amateur wrestling purists look down on pro wrestling, as if it's some sort of insult to the sport. In a way, I can understand where they're coming from.
However, many of today's and yesterday's wrestling stars have come from some sort of Olympic background.
Of course the most popular in today's minds, when it comes to wrestlers with an Olympic background, would probably be Kurt Angle. Angle is undoubtedly an Olympic and professional wrestling legend. He has also been a huge supporter and fighter of keeping wrestling as an Olympic sport.
Aside from just wrestling, there have been many other Olympic games that proverbial wrestlers have competed in over the years. Whether it's basketball, martial arts, weightlifting or track and field, wrestling and the Olympic games are much closer than you may think.
Here's a look at 10 wrestlers with some sort of Olympic background.
#10 GIANT GONZALEZ
No, this eight-foot giant never competed in Olympic wrestling, obviously. However, he did excel at another sport and I'll give you one guess which sport that was. Yes! You are correct, Giant Gonzalez was a star basketball player from his native homeland of Argentina. Who would've guessed it?
Gonzalez was a member of the Argentina basketball team in the 1988 Olympic games. Soon after, he was drafted in the NBA by the Atlanta Hawks, to become the first ever Argentinean player drafted in the NBA. Unfortunately, injuries would plague him, shortening his NBA career.
In 1990, Gonzalez would make his WCW debut at the Capital Combat pay-per-view. He would have strong feuds with the likes of Ric Flair and several others. In 1993, he would go on to sign with the WWF, where he would arguably have his greatest success as a professional wrestler.
One of his top moments was the Undertaker feud, which climaxed with a loss to Taker at Wrestlemania IX.
#9 KEN PATERA
Patera was a member of the United States weightlifting team at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games. He would become the first American to clean and jerk over 500 pounds, which he accomplished at the 1972 Senior Nationals in Detroit.
Ken Patera would go on to have a highly successful professional wrestling career, becoming what would eventually be known as one of AWA's all time greats, not to mention his success in WWF and the NWA territories.
Patera would win the AWA tag titles twice, as well as several NWA championships as well.
#8 MAD DOG VACHON
Mad Dog Vachon is the patriarch of the legendary Vachon family. He was also a wrestler in the 1948 Olympic Games in London, where he would pin the Indian champion in under 0:58 seconds. He would go on to finish 7th overall in the 174 pound weight class.
Vachon was a intensely feared villain of the 1960's and early 70's. He would soon become a legend of the AWA, winning the World Heavyweight Championship and total of five times. Vachon would also become a member of the WWE Hall of Fame, class of 2010.
#7 BAD NEWS BROWN
Bad News Brown is concerned by his fellow former wrestlers as one of the most underrated and under-appreciated talents of his time. Brown was highly respected and in some cases, feared by his fellow superstars.
Brown was also a very distinguished and accomplished black belt martial artist. He was a student of various forms of martial arts and a member of the Heavyweight class in Judo, at the 1976 Summer Olympic Games. He would also become a multi-time champion in the amateur athletic union judo championship.
#6 KARL GOTCH
Dubbed by many as the "god of wrestling," Gotch was a tremendous influence on some of the most iconic stars of wrestling's history, including Antonio Inoki. Inoki was also the one responsible for creating New Japan Pro Wrestling.
In fact, Gotch and Inoki would main-event the very first NJPW event.
The German Suplex is a maneuver named after Karl Gotch. Gotch is also a member of numerous wrestling halls of fame.
Karl Gotch competed in the freestyle wrestling, as well as Greco-Roman wrestling, at the 1948 Olympic Games. Gotch also excelled in the Indian martial art of Pehlwani.
#5 CHAD GABLE
Undoubtedly the youngest member of this list, Chad Gable is now on the newly revised Smackdown Live roster, along with his tag team partner, Jason Jordan. Together they create the duo known as American Alpha.
What some fans may not know about Smackdowns newest sensation, is that he was an accomplished amateur wrestler, as well as a 2012 Olympian. Gable defeated Jordan Holm in the final of the 2012 Olympic trials, which landed him a spot in the Summer Games. Gable would defeat Keitani Graham in the qualifier round, but was eliminated in the next round by Pablo Shorey.
#4 VERNE GAGNE
Gagne was an alternate on the United States freestyle wrestling team in 1948. His Olympic coaches weren't happy about the fact that Verne had made money competing at carnivals as a wrestler.
For this reason, they decided not to put him on the primary team, even though carnival wrestling was very popular at the time.
After the Olympics, Gagne would start wrestling all over Texas, with several NWA territories. As we all know, he would become one of professional wrestling’s greats, with huge success in the NWA and AWA.
Gagne would join the WWE Hall of Fame, class of 2006.
#3 MARK HENRY
"The Worlds Strongest Man."
Contrary to popular belief, that's not just a catchphrase, or some sort of clever tag line. In fact, Mark Henry would earn that title throughout his legendary powerlifting/weightlifting career. Henry would go on to hold a laundry list of world records before placing 10th overall in the super-heavyweight division, at the 1992 Olympics.
In the 1995 Pan-Am Games, Henry would place gold, silver and bronze, all in the same year. Mark was also the captain of the United States Olympic weightlifting team in Atlanta.
Multiple experts in Olympic weightlifting have been vocal in referring to Mark Henry as the strongest man to ever compete in weightlifting, without the use of steroids. This was a title he would earn at only 24 years old.
Henry is still with WWE today, likely nearing the end of his career, respectfully. Henry has been a world champion, a dominant heel, and a loved babyface. It's been rumored that Mark Henry will probably join the NXT coaching staff, at the conclusion of his in-ring career.
#2 IRON SHEIK
The Iron Sheik was a critical component in the evolution of what we now know as the "Hulkamania" era. Had it not been for Sheik dropping the title to Hogan, which kick-started the big Hogan run, things would've likely been drastically different.
In fact, Sheik has gone on record to say that he was offered a lot of money to shoot on Hogan and bring the belt to Minnesota and the AWA.
Before becoming a professional wrestler, Iron Sheik was a member of the Iranian Olympic team in the 1968 Summer Olympic Games, where he competed in Greco-Roman wrestling. Sheik would eventually move to the United States and become a coach for the U.S. Olympic wrestling team in 1972.
#1 KURT ANGLE
When the history books are written, there's no question whatsoever that Kurt Angle will be remembered as one of the true greats of the industry. Angle has been in the ring with everyone from Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Brock Lesnar, Shawn Michaels, Triple H and so many others.
He's been a world champion in WWE, as well as TNA, not to mention his success in Japan.
Kurt Angle has taken great pride in his activism and support to ensure wrestling remains an Olympic sport. In 1996, Kurt Angle would make history, when he won gold at the Olympics in Atlanta in freestyle wrestling.
Angle would also win gold at the 1995 World Championships, as well as winning bronze at the 1992 World Cup and silver at the 1995 World Cup.
One of Samoa Joe's colleagues had harsh words for him HERE
