Dan Gable

Right out of high school I never had the fear of getting beat, which is how most people lose.

I went to college. I had a double major in biology and physical education, but my major was wrestling.

I never won anything by myself. I was always strong because of help that gave me extra strength to win.

We, as a wrestling community, better remember it is more than one individual that makes a winner.

Many of those who have paid the ultimate price for freedom have come through the wrestling ranks. We need to honor them and win this decision to have wrestling - the world's oldest sport - remain a part of the most prestigious athletic competition in the world, the Olympics.

I've been a fanatic about working out all my life.

There's nothing like success.

My mind's never gone very far away from what I wanted to accomplish.

A lot of my intensity in wrestling was due to my mental preparation before the matches. I got myself into a different world.

I've never changed my life since I was 4 and went to the YMCA with a gym bag. I still have that philosophy. In fact, I still have that gym bag.

When my wrestlers got their hands raised, I jumped for joy.

My coaches were great. My mom and dad. My dad never missed a wrestling meet.

I don't think college wrestling is in danger of extinction by any means. But I am concerned if one program drops.

If you're going to stay in the Olympics, you've got to be entertaining and get sponsorship.

There's always ways of motivating yourself to higher levels. Write about it, dream about it. But after that, turn it into action. Don't just dream.

Freedom across the world is a result of many individuals working together.

Wrestlers are a little more dedicated than, and are different from, the other people, which may be strange.

The easiest thing to do in the world is pull the covers up over your head and go back to sleep.

My valleys are higher than most people's peaks. I stay at that level.

I shoot, I score. He shoots, I score.

More enduringly than any other sport, wrestling teaches self-control and pride. Some have wrestled without great skill - none have wrestled without pride.

My advice to young wrestlers is that your surroundings really make a difference. You want to put yourself in good, positive surroundings.

Once you've wrestled, everything else in life is easy.

Gold medals aren't really made of gold. They're made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.

My wrestling and family go together. It's always been that way, from day one with my mom and dad, my sister, my wife, four daughters, grandsons, son-in-laws.