Rodney Smith (wrestler)
Rodney Stacy Smith (born April 13, 1966 in Washington, DC , United States ) is a retired wrestler from the United States. He won a bronze medal in the Greco-Roman style in the lightweight at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona .
Career
Rodney Smith attended Springfield Roger L. Putnam High School. He was a member of the football team there. A wrestling coach at that high school, Bill Borecki, recognized Rodney Smith's talent for wrestling and got him into wrestling, where he soon became a member of the wrestling team. After high school, Rodney Smith studied at Western New England College. During this time, his wrestling successes were still limited. In 1988 he finished with the NCAA Div. III Championships in the lightweight m free style took 5th place.
In 1988 he joined the US Army and was promoted there in the Armed Forces World Class program, where he focused on the Greco-Roman style. He was stationed at Fort Benning. In 1990 he finished 4th in the US lightweight championship. In 1991 he fought his way forward at the national level. He was third in the Army Championship that year, third in the US Championship and also finished 3rd in the World Championship Elimination (Trials).
In 1992 he was army master and for the first time also American champion in lightweight. He then qualified at the US Olympic Trials for participation in the Olympic Games in Barcelona. The start at these Olympics was his first start in an international championship. In Barcelona he defeated the lightweight Pedro Villuela, Spain, Matwai Baranow, Israel and Douglas Yeats from Canada. Then he lost to Attila Repka from Hungary, but then secured an Olympic bronze medal with victories over Ghani Yalouz from France and Cecilio Rodriguez from Cuba.
In 1994 Rodney Smith finished 2nd in the US Championship and came 2nd in the Pan American Championship in Mexico City in 1994 in the lightweight behind Liubal Colas Oris from Cuba. He could not qualify for participation in the World Cup.
In 1995 Rodney Smith was again Army Master. In the US championship and in the World Cup elimination, he took 6th place in the lightweight. He was more successful at the World Military Games that took place in Rome. He finished second in the lightweight behind Alexander Tretyakov , Russia and ahead of Adam Juretzko , Germany and Mecnun Guler from Turkey.
In 1996 he was once again American champion and was also able to qualify for the second time to participate in the Olympic Games. At these Olympic Games, which took place in Atlanta, he started again in the lightweight. There he defeated Jose Hubert Escobar from Colombia and Yalcin Karapinar from Turkey. Then he lost to Grigori Puljajew from Uzbekistan and Liubal Colas Oris. He came in 9th place.
Then he ended his wrestling career.
International success
| year | space | competition | Weight class | Results |
| 1991 | 8th. | Concord Cup in Concord | Light | |
| 1992 | bronze | OS in Barcelona | Light | after victories over Pedro Villuela, Spain, Matwai Baranow, Israel and Douglas Yeats, Kanade, a defeat against Attila Repka, Hungary and victories over Ghani Yalouz, France and Cecilio Rodriguez, Cuba |
| 1992 | 3. | World Cup in Besançon | Light | behind Zachrab Abassow, Russia and Rudolfo Fuentes Rodriguez, Cuba |
| 1994 | 2. | Pan American Championship in Mexico City | Light | behind Liubal Colas Oris, Cuba, in front of Jose Alberto Diaz, Venezuela and Jose Ruben G. Olvera, Mexico |
| 1994 | 6th | Concord Cup in Concord | Welter | Winner: Galust Abramian, Armenia |
| 1995 | 2. | World military games in Rome | Light | behind Alexander Tretyakov, Russia, in front of Adam Juretzko, Germany and Mecnun Guler, Turkey |
| 1996 | 3. | Acropolis Grand Prix in Athens | Light | |
| 1996 | 9. | OS in Atlanta | Light | after victories over Jose Hubert Escobar, Colombia and Yalcin Karapinar, Turkey and defeats against Grigori Puljajew, Uzbekistan and Liubal Colas Oris |
- Explanations
- all competitions in Greco-Roman style
- OS = Olympic Games, WM = World Championship
- NCAA = United States University Sports Association
- Lightweight, then up to 68 kg, welter weight up to 74 kg body weight
literature
- Trade journal Der Ringer
Web links
- Profile of Rodney Smith at the Institute of Applied Exercise Science
- Rodney Smith in the Sports-Reference database (English; archived from the original )
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Smith, Rodney |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Smith, Rodnay Stacy |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American wrestler |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 13, 1966 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Washington, DC |