Randy Lewis vs John Smith

3 olympic gold medals between these two legends
Randy LewBoo (TGO) Lewis defeats John Smith in Topeka, Kansas in 1988 Olympic Team Trials Qualifier. The Great One came out on top 7-5 or 7-6?
These were better times for USA Wrestling
The Great One aka: TGO came out of retirement for this 'come back' in 1988.
TGO has since gone on to be (among other things) International Head of Sales for and spokesperson / personality for ShamWow!

[@JayB2]

This was one of the best trilogy of matches iv ever seen. Best of 3 series. Randy one this one, Smith won the other 2.

[@jaekaitch382]

Despite losing the match, gotta give it to John Smith for that immeasurable amount of heart and ability to keep his cool while on the mat. I like the way he moves, not my real style being a much bigger guy but he rolls it out so well.

[@Craiglistofvideos]

Matches like this certainly helped John Smith prepare for his gold medal run this year. He had started his reign a year earlier as a world champion... while still IN college!

[@thomasrebelo2189]

Randy lewis vs. Sterev ( bulgaria) my favourite match of all time . Randy's unorthodox style was always fun to watch. These were 2 very different style . Smith could never turn or throw anybody but he had his PhD in that low single Two legends really...

[@chethammer]

I watched a youtube video yesterday that says you're wrong about Smith not being able to throw.

[@CarlosStephenPR]

This match was incredible

[@angusrocks6464]

Wow, what a match!

[@chuckerroo5977]

That was one beautiful throw lewis hit. Smith landed flat on his back. Then lewis turned it into a headlock. Smith somehow bridge out. Refs missed the pin

[@BTGxPenguins]

I was wondering who was in which singlet, until i saw the single..

[@juansoto1440]

Hermoso deporte,fuerza,agilidad e inteligencia.

[@spyu]

That was an insane bridge by smith.

[@graceandtruthfellowship4347]

Wow!!!

[@bigbirdgrappler60]

@FraldinhoBJJ randy smith? its randy lewis and john smith

[@torajmoghadam4570]

خیلی باهوش بود بودن گوشهای سکُته ❤🎉.سپاسگزارم

[@deadbob12344]

Nice to see they still had girls back then that yell useless shit like "Go John" or "Take him down" as if they don't already know to get a takedown.

[@AhPhoey]

This might be the only time Randy Lewis had beaten Smith. In this best of 3 series, Smith won, of course. And the talk of greatest wrestler ever? Most likely Robin Reed, Olympic Champion of 1924. He was never beaten by anyone of any size and could pin the entire USA Olympic team, including the heavyweight. And Reed was only a 135 pounder.

[@AhPhoey]

Reed not only beat people his same weight, but beat everyone regardless of weight, including the USA Olympic Heavyweight and 191lb Gold Medalist. He could pin Hall of Famers much heavier than himself, too ( and did ). Osamu was great, but Reed is most likely the best.

[@annettenpaul]

+AhPhoey Fascinating story. In one picture I saw him pinning an opponent by locking up the guy's arms using his legs, upper bodies not even touching. I've never seen that done before. Probably not many people could do that, maybe that's how he pinned heavyweights? I guess he might even have been able to beat Cael Sanderson. Yikes!

[@mattnavarro6256]

Its definitely an erra thing. The access we have now to quality coaches and to our opponents matches and style is unreal.

[@MrCoolguy109]

John Smith was seriously the best wrestler ever

[@harryhirsch8527]

muahaha good one..the one trick pony

[@АбдулкадирДжамалов]

@@harryhirsch8527 ййййййййййййй

[@АбдулкадирДжамалов]

@@harryhirsch8527 ййййййййййййййй

[@МагомедКеримов-х6й]

Вот так красиво

[@muellermaxwell]

DID THEY NOT HAVE PUSH OUTS OR SOMETHING?!?

[@JASONCFFC]

Not back then.

[@300Nightfire300]

wrestling fact #13 the more unoriginal the name is, the better wrestler you are.

[@G1stGBless]

I know randy lewis was great. But that leg defense was non-existent early on. Some credit has to go to JL of course.

[@joshlicious4]

Him and Ricky Dellegatta are the best wrestlers ever. Wish they had wrestled.

[@littleroots]

Smith dominated the Olympics though, so Lewis can have his one match LOL!

[@SuperDriven1]

ROOT S Actually Lewis won Olympic gold too.

[@tommetier3169]

Lewis made the 1980 Olympic team while a junior at Iowa. President Carter held the US team out of the Olympics after the trials were completed. Lewis then won’t the gold medal in the 1984 Olympics scoring 54 points against opponents vs 4 points on him in the tournament. John Smith did well to make the 1988 Olympics, but make no mistake, he had nothing on Randy Lewis. Lewis went 29-0 with 29 pins in one season in H.S. I can’t verify, but seem to remember he won the SD state championship 5 times (yes - first one as an 8th grader). He at one time held the record for the most points scored in an Olympic match and the most points scored in an NCAA match- he may still hold both records. Coach John Smith has a had an amazing career, and deserves great respect. Randy Lewis, just short of age 50 made the finals in an open tournament - you could say he deserves respect at all levels too.

[@steveensor9583]

@@tommetier3169 Actually Lewis won 3 high school championships, not 5. He did win 89 in a row, with 83 pins during those three years. Maybe you are confusing him with Lincoln McIlravy-also from South Dakota who did win 5. Lewis tried out for the Olympic Team while still in high school, and also in 1992. He was one ill-advised front headlock roll attempt versus Smith from making the team in 1988. He took 4th in 1992 in the Trials up at 149.5. So he attempted 5 Olympic Teams, and made went DNP, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 4th.

[@Craiglistofvideos]

No... that's a newer rule. Period format, etc. was different. Freestyle changes more than folkstyle.

[@TheWutangmaster]

Cael Sanderson?

[@harryhirsch8527]

what about the skinhead?

[@ChickityChoice]

Karelin was a heavy weight, and although he was great, the heavyweights are not nearly as technical/competitive as the middle weights.

[@PVVP500]

Push outs are a joke, so is getting a leg in a tie. They didnot have push outs then. In response to Smith being the greatest wrestler (American) don't forget Lee Kemp 3X world champ 1980 Olympian (favortite) to win USA boycott. Kemp made it look easy.

[@bdog548]

legit single leg

[@Happycamper808]

No wonder why oliver stutter steps so much

[@etagged]

He looked really distraught

[@angeloruiz1873]

yup and it wasnt because of his athletic ability, hes a small average looking guy but his technique was above everyone

[@LordSunrunner]

Technique and that he trained three times daily. John wasn't upper body, but he still possessed world-class conditioning.

[@henryware9440]

The title of this video is a little misleading. This was a best of three match and Smith won 2 of the three, ergo he won the match.

[@SonnyClose]

no he didn't

[@FraldinhoBJJ]

hey randy smith. i know it was 1988 but that damn singlet is too much

[@bigbirdgrappler60]

@MrCoolguy109 best freestyle not best overall wrestler karelin from russia won 12 straight titles and didnt give up a point for 6 years before he lost to rulon and id bet he would have been just as dominant in freestyle

[@jhamp81]

Randy Lewis is so awkward!

[@steveensor9583]

Smith made everyone look like that with his stutter-step.

[@harryhirsch8527]

So the clumsy Randy Lewis manhandled the one trick pony John Smith...wanna see a real match? Mark Ironside vs Cary Kolat kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXvFe3iuZtJ_nqs

[@steveensor9583]

Lewis still recovering from knee surgery, and Smith could throw and turn. You know nothing. Ironside and Kolat was a good match, cept that Kolat gassed. Lewis and Smith did not gas in this tournament.