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Wrestling Changed My Life (Wrestling Podcast)

#260 Matt Ghaffari - 4x World Medalist

Wrestling Changed My Life (Wrestling Podcast)

Wrestling Changed My Life

Sports

4.91.1K Ratings

🗓️ 16 August 2021

⏱️ 63 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Matt Ghaffari is America’s most decorated greco wrestler of all time. He was a 4x world medalist, earning a silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where he fell to Russian great Alexander Karelin in overtime. Today Matt is in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. In this episode, Matt shares story after story about his rise to wrestling greatness, battling with Karelin, and a wild trip to Siberia in 1995. Please enjoy! * PRESENTED BY SPARTAN COMBAT This episode is presented by Spartan Combat. The Spartan Combat Nationals will be back for 2022! Clear your calendars for April 8-10, 2022, as Spartan Combat will be hosting national competitions in all wrestling styles (folk, free, greco and beach) in Jacksonville Florida. * FANS If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews! * TEXT THE SHOW –Keyword: Wrestle –Number: 224-54 * FOLLOW the PODCAST Twitter: @Ryan_N_Warner Instagram: Wrestling Changed My Life Facebook: Wrestling Changed My Life Website: wrestlingchangedmylife.com Shop merchandise at our Online Store: Store.WrestlingChangedMyLife.com *** ABOUT Presented by Spartan Combat and hosted by Ryan Warner, the award-winning Wrestling Changed My Life Podcast features in-depth interviews with wrestlers, fighters and coaches. New episodes are released every Monday and Wednesday. Wrestling Changed My Life is the fastest growing wrestling podcast and has been featured as high as #28 on Apple’s Top Sports Podcasts Charts.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hey, guys. Quick update from the podcast. Our next audio documentary series is going live Monday,

0:06.4

August 30th. It's called Slang Sativ. It's a story about the biggest upset in wrestling history.

0:14.2

We put a ton of time into these audio documentaries. Our last one was The Smith. Slang Sativ is

0:20.4

coming August 30th. It would mean the world to us if you checked out all four episodes on Monday,

0:26.7

August 30th, right here on this platform. They announced that three hours before

0:32.7

and they showed it. The SUV is for the champ Harley-Davidson's for the second and they had a

0:40.4

rug and a camcorder and something else for a third. And once I made the finals at 10am,

0:49.7

between 10 to 6, I had over 90 people wanted to buy my Harley-Davidson.

0:57.2

We can endure anything and adapt and pivot and change. Wrestling gave us that ability.

1:05.2

I would say that nothing in life has impacted me or that things wrestling has taught me in terms

1:10.5

of self-reflection, resilience, toughness, some guys have it, some guys don't. Adversity,

1:17.1

100%, how to pick myself up and be a man after I failed. And everything that is shaped my life

1:24.8

and what I'm at today would not be there without the values and basically the lessons I've learned

1:30.5

to the sport of wrestling. For me, wrestling is a life because it allowed me to focus and channel

1:36.4

my energy. We're fortunate if you wrestled because if you wrestled, natural talent helps,

1:45.2

but it's 5% of the ingredient. It pales in comparison to heart and technique and effort.

1:53.3

It humbled me, taught me humility. Nothing can hurt you more than wrestling.

1:59.1

I think it's the learning to adapt, right? You learn how to adapt, you learn how to solve problems.

2:05.9

You know, probably back in my time, that's good wrestling. If you gave me one thing more than

2:09.2

anything else, it's mental toughness. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Wrestling

2:14.4

Change My Life podcast. This is your host, Ryan Warner. Our guest today is a Greco-Roman legend.

2:21.4

Iranian-born Makafari, four-time world medalist. He got second in 91, third in 95,

...

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