Lou Banach

Ludwig David "Lou" Banach (born February 6, 1960) is an American athlete who won a gold medal in wrestling in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He was noted with his fraternal twin brother Ed Banach for both winning gold medals in freestyle wrestling at the same Olympics.

After earning a master's in business degree at Pennsylvania State University in 1988, Banach has had a career as a banker based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Since 2010 he has been a segment leader for Associated Bank of Green Bay.

Early life and education Lou and Ed Banach are fraternal twin brothers born in Sussex County, New Jersey, sons of Warclaw and Genevieve Banach, immigrants from Poland and Germany, respectively. They have an older brother Steve, born in 1959. Their biological family of 16 was separated when they were young, after their house was destroyed in a fire. Their mother suffered a nervous breakdown, and the children had to be put in foster care.

Olympic gold In 1984, Lou won a gold medal in Freestyle Wrestling in the 220-pound-weight (light heavyweight) class at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California. His brother Ed Banach won a gold medal in the 198-pound-class. In that same Olympiad, American brothers Dave and Mark Schultz also both won gold medals in wrestling events. Wrestling at lower weight classes than the Banachs, the Schultzes became the first American brothers to win gold medals in the same Olympics in wrestling. However, the Banach brothers have the distinction of being the first American TWIN brothers to win the gold medal in the same Olympics in wrestling.

Career After his wrestling career, Banach entered active duty in the army as a second lieutenant. Following his management role during the day, he helped coach at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Marriage and family Banach, his wife Kim and their three children reside in the Milwaukee area. In 2002 Banach was inducted into the University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2010 Banach was inducted into the Port Jervis, NY High school Hall of Fame. Port Jervis, New York installed a blue-and-gold sign in town honoring Ed and Lou Banach as Olympic champions. Banach is the author of two books: The New Breed:Living Iowa Wrestling and Uncommon Bonds: A Journey in Optimism.