The Omnibus Show E017 Shelby Wilson Discusses Wrestling, Winning Olympic Gold, and a Meaningful Life
July 31, 2023 – Today’s episode of The Omnibus Show will feature Olympic Wrestling Gold Medalist Shelby Wilson.
Wilson, who is now 86, lives in Bloomington, is originally from Oklahoma. It was Wilson’s hard work and Christian faith that helped him win the lightweight division gold medal in wrestling, in 1960, in Rome. Tune in to this edition of The Omnibus Show to hear how this 72 pound farm kid who lived on an Indian Reservation became focused on wrestling itself, and then on making the Olympic team. He then turned that focus on his life as a whole.
Wilson listened to coaches, trained hard, gave up bad foods, and became a winning wrestler. One of his coaches liked to say that if muscles were everything, a bull could catch a rabbit. That stuck with Wilson, as he worked to build his mind and body into that of a champion.
It was during his college days when he was injured that he began to train for the Olympics. During this time, he had to make the decision of what weight to wrestle. He and his coach disagreed, so he turned to God. He prayed about it and went on to wrestle, and win, a gold medal in wrestling at 147 pounds.
“I’m a Christian. I seek guidance outside myself. After I prayed about my weight class, I felt at complete peace going to 147. My confidence rose up and - let’s go!”
When his bad knees threatened his success, he again turned to prayer. “Lord, I need a plan…” Wilson decided to perfect what he knew and blow off what he didn’t know. Wilson shared a description of the outside area of the old Basilica where the Olympic competition took place, along with some photos.
He has used the winning of the Olympic Medal, along with the lessons he learned with it, as he has lived his life. “Olympics gave me a platform. I am humbled by the honor. I have a responsibility to lead kids in the right direction, especially with the gold medal.”
Wilson, who has coached and worked with kids his whole adult life, lets the kids know that this doesn’t happen overnight. He talks to them about hard work and focus. In addition to this, he works to help others in any way he can, whether it be fixing a toilet to helping someone find storage for their belongings. Wilson makes lifelong connections because of the kind of person he is.
Shelby Wilson, Olympics - https://olympics.com/en/athletes/shelby-autrie-wilson
Wrestling at the 1960 Summer Olympics - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrestling_at_the_1960_Summer_Olympics
Shelby Wilson, National Wrestling Hall of Fame - https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/bio/56
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