Mine is pretty close minus Maroulis. Big B, Burroughs, Smith, Snyder. Bruce made 14 teams. Snyder 12. Medaled in 13 of 14! Snyder 11 of 12! To break all records Snyder will have to wrestle into the 2032 cycle. Can Snyder's body hold up that long???
Agree don't want to leave him off just yet. But Snyder and Dake if their bodies hold up could over take him. Then the age old discussion of Smith over Bruce. Then I have got to go with Bruce. Smith has one more gold and 7 less medals. As a business guy I gotta go with Bruce. Snyder and even Dake are talking trash about wrestling through 2032. Big B wrestled from 1982-1996. 15 world teams and 13 medals during those years on senior circuit. Snyder just made his 12th team? So he would have to wrestle into the 2032 cycle. I know he wants to. Talks like he will wrestle until his legs break apart!
I get why people think Smith's run is the greatest ever. But if we are talking GOAT 1987-1992 is not going to cut it. Sorry John. Longevity in my opinion should be a major category which eliminates Smith from the discussion in my opinion. If the Golds are close. Bruce has 5. 13 freaking medals is just insane. Snyder is about to challenge Big Bruce in the longevity category. I can't imagine Snyder going after 2028 but if he does go to 2032 then he will surpass Big Bruce probably. Can his body hold up? In the business world top performing longevity is king way over a few great years. Dake is just too old to be GOAT probably. I was just arguing in the Heavyweight boxing world about Klitsko vs Tyson. Klitsko held title longer than anyone 11/12 years vs Tyson who wrecked people for 3 years. Debate goes on forever
I get why people think Smith's run is the greatest ever. Longevity in my opinion should be a major category which eliminates Smith from the discussion in my opinion. Snyder is about to challenge Big Bruce in the longevity category. I can't imagine Snyder going after 2028 but if he does go to 2032 then he will surpass Big Bruce. In the business world top performing longevity is king way over a few great years. Dake is just too old to be GOAT probably.
Big Bruce is actually first for me. Tied for most medals ever and 5 golds and Two Olympic titles. Only wrestler to ever be the main rep/flag bearer at the opening of the games. John Smith's career is too short for me for GOAT.
Injuries and drive? When you win Olympic Gold and beat Snyder and Saduleav what else is there. Beating Medved or Satiev's record? Some people dont wanna wrestle 5 cycles into their mid 30s in order to become GOAT. They wanna get on with their life.
How. Snyder. I have never seen anything like it. Not getting dominated but Yoshida was getting a slight advantage in all exchanges until last 30 seconds. And he is young/stamina and appeared slightly stronger and faster. Brain fart by Yoshida but also the biggest ice in veins moment I have ever seen in world or Olympic final. Maybe Gable S got it beat but dang. Kyle on his way to being our greatest ever. Best bracket run in american history.
Well ya. But in elite wrestling circles one year holdback is pretty standard. But James is a normal aged graduating senior, actually a few months younger than average. Teh average age to turn 18 is March of your senior year and James is on the younger side!!!
Dang he is an anomaly. That is surely young enough to get 6. Grey then 5. If I were Cael I would do it. This kid could be a undefeated 5 timer. Probably would lose a few this year.
He will now just hang out at the NLWC for a year. Only really young guys can do this. Cornell and some other Ivies were doing it alot. So he will be off the roster this year.