For John Smith, faith greater than gold

John Smith stood atop the medal stand in Seoul, South Korea, gold draped around his neck, watching the American flag rise while the national anthem rang from the speakers, catching glances and smiles from family and friends in the crowd.

That moment, the realization of a long-formed journey to an Olympic Gold medal in wrestling – the first of two for Smith – stood as a crowning achievement. It was momentous and important.

Yet in the grand scheme, the one authored by God, not most important.

“Our faith was bigger than sport,” said Smith, raised in Del City alongside nine siblings in a family built on a strong Catholic foundation. “I may have prayed for help, that I have my best performance. But I always kept it in perspective.

“Winning medals and doing some things that are pretty exciting is great. But they’re not nearly as important as my faith.”

In the midst of the Paris 2024 Olympics, Smith remains one of Oklahoma’s great Olympic heroes and one of the nation’s most successful Olympic Catholics.

While retired from wrestling and now coaching, where he built a mountain of success over 32 years in charge at Oklahoma State University, Smith stands as the most decorated American wrestler in international history and a legend in the sport. He won two collegiate national championships and is the only American wrestler to win six consecutive world and Olympic championships.

As Cowboys coach, Smith led OSU to five NCAA team championships, 33 NCAA individual championships, 490 dual wins and produced 153 All-Americans. His accomplishments place him among the top coaches in the history of the sport.

That first Olympics experience in 1988, however, was different. And special.

Smith first launched his Olympic dream as a second grader. Wrestling was the family sport. All four boys – Lee Roy, Pat, John and Mark – competed and succeeded. And the six sisters – Margaret, Cathy, JoAnn, Rita, Carol and Mary Ann – provided stout support, whether in the stands or in the living room or front yard as practice partners. Parents Lee Roy Sr. and Madalene Smith led the charge.

For John, standing on the medal stand in Seoul was surreal.

“You can't describe it,” he said. “I've tried to tell everybody and you just can't describe it. I mean, it’s just such an emotional experience. When I say emotional, the excitement of it. The medal around your neck. The raising of the American flag three feet higher than the other two.

“It's just a moment in time that goes by quickly, but wow. I had family there. I had friends and OSU fans there. A pretty good moment for a guy, 22-years old, from Del City, Oklahoma.”

Smith won gold again in 1992 at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona. There he stood in the tunnel of the Stadium, waiting to proceed out for the Opening Ceremony among the famous Dream Team, the Michael Jordan-led U.S. men’s basketball squad featuring the first American Olympic team to feature active professional players.

“Pretty cool, right?” John said.

And yet, not the ultimate cool.

“I just always felt like my faith was my greatest responsibility,” John said, “daily, weekly …

“We celebrated the Rosary often. Our Sundays were about going to church. Back then, it was most important. Not like in today’s world, where you have sports on Sunday.

“I never looked at wrestling like it’s the most important thing in my life. It was always my faith, even when I maybe wasn’t living so good, which wasn’t often. I wasn’t perfect. But I knew the difference between right and wrong, that’s for sure.”

The Smith family attended Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Del City and Saint Philip Neri Catholic Church in Midwest City in earlier days. John now is a parishioner at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Stillwater.

Today, the kids are all grown up, with kids of their own – and grandchildren and great grandchildren – many scattered around the metro, filling pews in various parishes. And their Catholic faith remains a priority.

“Every day, yeah,” John said. “It’s who we are.”

John Helsley is the editor of the Sooner Catholic.




Catholic Olympians
Oklahoman John Smith ranks among the most successful Catholic Olympians in history, with two gold medals in wrestling.

Who other notable Catholics to participate in the Summer Olympics?

Paris 2024
Simone Biles, gymnastics: With a total of 37 Olympic and World Championship medals, she is the most decorated gymnast in history and is widely considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time.
Katie Ledecky, swimming: Has won seven Olympic gold medals and 21 world championship gold medals, the most in history for a female swimmer.

Mariel Zacunis, fencing: A two-time Olympic champion in the individual sabre and the first American to win a gold medal in Olympic fencing.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, track and field: Won Olympic gold in the 400-meter hurdles in Tokyo in 2021 and contributed to the U.S. team’s gold in the 4x400 relay. She qualified for the 2016 Olympics at the age of 16.

Others
Usain Bolt, track and field: The fastest Catholic Olympian, the Jamaican speedster won eight gold medals in posting the world record in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x100-meter relay. Bolt famously wore a Miraculous Medal when he ran.

Dominique Dawes, gymnastics: A three-time Olympian, won a team gold medal with the group known as the “Magnificent Seven” at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Christopher Chavasse, track and field: A British athlete, soldier and religious leader, Chavasse competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London and later became the Bishop of Rochester.

Joe Fitzgerald, handball: Competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics and later became a priest.
Grace McCallum, gymnastics: Won a silver medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics and told reporters that she prays the Prayer to Saint Michael right before hitting the mat.