#152 – Dan Gable: Olympic Wrestling, Mental Toughness & the Making of Champions

About this episode

<p>Dan Gable is one of the greatest Olympic athletes and wrestling coaches of all time. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:<br /> &#8211; <b>Tryolabs</b>: <a href="https://tryolabs.com/lex">https://tryolabs.com/lex</a><br /> &#8211; <b>ExpressVPN</b>: <a href="https://expressvpn.com/lexpod">https://expressvpn.com/lexpod</a> and use code LexPod to get 3 months free<br /> &#8211; <b>Grammarly</b>: <a href="https://grammarly.com/lex">https://grammarly.com/lex</a> to get 20% off premium<br /> &#8211; <b>SimpliSafe</b>: <a href="https://simplisafe.com/lex">https://simplisafe.com/lex</a> and use code LEX to get a free security camera</p> <p><b>EPISODE LINKS:</b><br /> Dan&#8217;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/dannygable">https://twitter.com/dannygable</a><br /> Dan&#8217;s Website: <a href="https://dangable.com/">https://dangable.com/</a><br /> Dan&#8217;s Books: <a href="https://amzn.to/2VK5nbn">https://amzn.to/2VK5nbn</a></p> <p><b>PODCAST INFO:</b><br /> Podcast website: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/podcast">https://lexfridman.com/podcast</a><br /> Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://apple.co/2lwqZIr">https://apple.co/2lwqZIr</a><br /> Spotify: <a href="https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8">https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8</a><br /> RSS: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/">https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/</a><br /> YouTube Full Episodes: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexfridman">https://youtube.com/lexfridman</a><br /> YouTube Clips: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexclips">https://youtube.com/lexclips</a></p> <p><b>SUPPORT &#38; CONNECT:</b><br /> &#8211; Check out the sponsors above, it&#8217;s the best way to support this podcast<br /> &#8211; Support on Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman">https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/lexfridman">https://twitter.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman">https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LexFridmanPage">https://www.facebook.com/LexFridmanPage</a><br /> &#8211; Medium: <a href="https://medium.com/@lexfridman">https://medium.com/@lexfridman</a></p> <p><b>OUTLINE:</b><br /> Here&#8217;s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.<br /> (00:00) &#8211; Introduction<br /> (09:31) &#8211; Russian wrestling<br /> (11:09) &#8211; Coaching the science, art, and toughness of wrestling<br /> (18:05) &#8211; The pain of defeat and the tattoo of a hawk clawing out the heart<br /> (21:04) &#8211; Roger Bannister and the 4 minute mile<br /> (24:09) &#8211; The dream of becoming an Olympic champion<br /> (26:38) &#8211; The day in 1972 of the Olympic final<br /> (30:10) &#8211; Sauna story<br /> (31:39) &#8211; Match against the Russian<br /> (37:13) &#8211; The role of fear in wrestling<br /> (42:14) &#8211; The line between physical wrestling and anger<br /> (46:53) &#8211; Tragic loss of Dan&#8217;s sister<br /> (54:21) &#8211; The role of family in wrestling<br /> (59:43) &#8211; Wrestling being voted out of the Olympics<br /> (1:04:26) &#8211; To beat the best you must study the best<br /> (1:09:39) &#8211; The role of luck (Old Man and the Sea)</p>