Bruce Baumgartner

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Other
SexMale
Full nameBruce Robert•Baumgartner
Used nameBruce•Baumgartner
Born2 November 1960 in Haledon, New Jersey (USA)
Measurements188 cm / 130 kg
AffiliationsNYAC, New York (USA)
NOC United States
Medals OG
Gold 2
Silver 1
Bronze 1
Total 4

Biography

Bruce Baumgartner ranked as one of the top super-heavyweight freestyle wrestlers for more than a decade. Winning his first World Championship medal (bronze) in 1983, he won the gold in Los Angeles. He confirmed his status with the East European wrestlers present in 1986, winning his first of three world titles. In his second Olympic final in Seoul, he lost to Georgian Davit Gobejishvili. Four years later, he won a rematch in Barcelona, en route to his second Olympic title.

After world titles in 1993 and 1995, Baumgartner was favored to win his third gold in Atlanta, but a defeat against Russia’s Andrey Shumilin left him with a bronze medal. In addition to his World and Olympic titles, Baumgartner amassed three golds at the Pan American Games, 17 American titles and eight World Cup wins. In 1995, he was awarded the James E. Sullivan Award (for the outstanding American amateur athlete) and in 2008 he was inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1984 Summer Olympics Wrestling USA Bruce Baumgartner
Super-Heavyweight, Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
1988 Summer Olympics Wrestling USA Bruce Baumgartner
Super-Heavyweight, Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver
1992 Summer Olympics Wrestling USA Bruce Baumgartner
Super-Heavyweight, Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
1996 Summer Olympics Wrestling USA Bruce Baumgartner
Super-Heavyweight, Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 3 Bronze

Other participations

Games Role NOC As
1996 Summer Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony USA Bruce Baumgartner

Special Notes