Nine US presidents were accomplished wrestlers. George Washington was the champ of his high school at 18, and at age 47 threw seven challengers in a row from Massachusetts. Teddy Roosevelt was a wrestler, who cross trained in boxing and Jiu-Jitsu. Andrew Jackson, Zachary Taylor, Ulysses S. Grant, Chester A. Arthur, and William Taft were also champions.
But the greatest wrestler/president was, perhaps not coincidentally, also the greatest president – Abraham Lincoln. AND, he was a fair trash talker. David Fleming has the story for SI.
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the U.S., was such an accomplished wrestler that once, after disposing of an opponent with a single toss, he stepped to the center of the mob that had gathered and shouted, “Any of you want to try it, come on and whet your horns!”
No one stepped forward.
Which is not surprising, because the self-taught scholar who wrote the ringing Gettysburg Address was also one of the American frontier’s fiercest grapplers during the early 1830s. “He can outrun, outlift, outwrestle and throw down any man in Sangamon County,” said Bill Green, a store clerk in New Salem, Ill., as he watched the 22-year-old Lincoln whip all comers one day in 1831.
Lincoln’s wrestling supremacy, however, was challenged often. Gangly and awkward as a child, he grew into a tall, muscular man with broad shoulders. But at 6′ 4″ and 185 pounds, Lincoln was a tempting target for any newcomer to the frontier eager to make a name for himself.
“He sure was the big buck of this lick,” said another New Salem resident who saw Lincoln give the notorious county wrestling champion Jack Armstrong the worst thrashing of his life one hot September day more than 163 years ago. That was the future president’s most celebrated victory. Frustrated from the start by Lincoln’s tremendous reach, Armstrong began stomping on his opponent’s feet. Lincoln lost his temper. And a few tosses later Armstrong lost consciousness.
“We can only find one recorded defeat of Lincoln in 12 years,” says Bob Dellinger, director emeritus of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla., where Lincoln is enshrined in the Hall of Outstanding Americans. “He was undoubtedly the roughest and toughest of all the wrestling presidents.”
On the American frontier the sportsmanlike collar and elbow gave way to a catch-as-catch-can style that required less skill and more brute strength. In the name of civic pride (and, of course, some friendly wagering) champions from each county were pitted against each other. Lincoln progressed swiftly in this rougher style of wrestling—though he often helped conquered opponents to their feet or gave them water after matches. He was a proud competitor but a humble sportsman. And when his wrestling skills diminished, Lincoln’s leadership qualities emerged.
In his service with the Illinois ‘Volunteers during the Black Hawk Indian uprising of 1832, Lincoln was one match away from a regimental championship. Wrestling for the Sangamon County Volunteers, he had disposed of seven opponents before facing Hank Thompson, a fellow soldier. The two men locked up and strained for advantage before Lincoln broke away and declared Thompson “the most powerful man I ever had hold of.” Honest Abe wasn’t lying. Upon resuming the match Thompson secured his place in history by becoming the only man ever to throw Lincoln. And he did it twice.
With their hero defeated, Sangamon’s troops cried foul and prepared for the brawl that often followed wrestling matches. Lincoln, showing the poise and character that would sustain him later as president, held up his hands and halted the hostilities. “Boys, give up your bets,” he commanded. “If this man hasn’t thrown me fairly, he could.”
This of course leads to an important question. Abe Lincoln vs. Chuck Norris …
… who wins?
