Fred Fozzard

Fred Fozzard (born June 14, 1945) is an American former freestyle and folkstyle wrestler. He won a freestyle World Championship at the 1969 World Championships at 82 kg, becoming the first American wrestler to win a World Championship. He also placed fifth at the 1970 World Championships at 82 kg. As a college wrestler, Fozzard was a three-time All-American and 1967 NCAA wrestling champion at Oklahoma State.

In 2012, Fozzard was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member.

Early life and education Fozzard was stricken with polio at the age of two, but overcame the disability through hard work and determination. He attended Marshall High School in Portland, Oregon. As a high school wrestler, he was a two-time Oregon state champion. He then attended Oklahoma State, where he was a three-time All-American and NCAA wrestling champion in 1967. He also would help Oklahoma State win two team NCAA championships, winning in 1966 and 1968.

Freestyle wrestling career In 1969, Fozzard became the first American to win a World Championship, winning gold at the 1969 World Championships as a freestyle wrestler in Mar Del Plata, Argentina. He was one of two American freestyle wrestlers to win a World Championship in 1969, alongside Rick Sanders. He followed that up with a fifth-place finish at the 1970 World Championships in Edmonton, Canada.