Mark Philip Schultz (born October 26, 1960) is an Olympic

Summer Olympic Games

The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...

 and 2-time World

FILA Wrestling World Championships

FILA Wrestling World Championships is the Amateur Wrestling World Championship organized by the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles . The men's Greco-Roman tournament began in 1904...

 champion freestyle wrestler

Freestyle wrestling

Freestyle wrestling is a style of amateur wrestling that is practised throughout the world. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic games. It is, along with track and field, one of the oldest organized sports in history...

 and a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Biography

He is the brother of the late Dave Schultz

Dave Schultz (amateur wrestler)

David Leslie Schultz was an Olympic and world champion freestyle wrestler.-Early life:...

, who also won a Freestyle Wrestling Gold Medal at the 1984 Olympics

1984 Summer Olympics

The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...

. The Schultz brothers are the first brothers in U.S. history to win Olympic titles in the same Olympics and are the only brothers in U.S. history to win Olympic and World titles. Between them, the Schultz brothers won more NCAA, World, and Olympic titles than any American brother combination in history.

Mark Schultz attended Palo Alto High

Palo Alto High School

Palo Alto Senior High School, known locally as "Paly," was founded in 1898 and is one of the oldest high schools in the region. Located in Palo Alto, California, United States, Paly is nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, and is adjacent to Stanford University. Paly is known for its academically...

, coached by Ed Hart. He only started wrestling his junior year in high school and ended that year with a 4-6 record. The next year he didn't win any tournaments until the state qualifying meets where he won the league, region, section, and the state.

Mark went to UCLA his freshman year and went 18-8. He transferred to Oklahoma University, redshirted, and spent the next 3 years from 1981 through 1983 winning 3 NCAA Championships. Mark was named the NCAA Outstanding Wrestler his junior year for defeating everyone in his weight class which included NCAA Champion Matt Reiss and 2-time NCAA Champion Ed Banach. Schultz was the NCAA Champion his sophomore year at 167 lbs but moved up a weight to challenge Banach. Schultz defeated him 16-8. The next year Schultz went undefeated and set the Oklahoma University record for most victories without a loss in a single season. In 1984 Mark and Dave Schultz both won Olympic Gold. Dave Schultz is the only 1984 Olympic Champion to win the 1983 World Championships and Mark is the only 1984 Olympic Champion to win the 1985 World Championships. Mark became the first Olympic Champion to add 2 additional World Titles in 1987 tying the U.S. record for World Golds with Lee Kemp. In 1996 after 8 years in retirement Mark made a comeback and competed in UFC 9 and won.

Mixed Martial Arts

Schultz competed in UFC 9

UFC 9

UFC 9: Motor City Madness was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on May 17, 1996, at the Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan...

 in 1996, facing off against the Canadian Gary Goodridge

Gary Goodridge

Gary Goodridge , nicknamed "Big Daddy", is a Trinidadian and Tobagonian-Canadian former super heavyweight kickboxer and heavyweight mixed martial artist fighting out of Barrie, Ontario. Goodridge is known for his hard-hitting fighting style and showmanship...

, winning by technical knockout due to Gary sustaining a bad cut. Schultz retired from competition following UFC 9 with a 1-0-0 (W-L-T) record.

As well as being a wrestler, he has trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...

 with Rickson Gracie

Rickson Gracie

Rickson Gracie is a Brazilian 8th degree black and red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a retired mixed martial artist. He is a member of the Gracie family: the son of Hélio Gracie, brother to Rorion and Relson Gracie, and half-brother to Rolker, Royce, Robin and Royler Gracie.-Biography:Rickson...

. He trained under Pedro Sauer for 4 years in BJJ.

Accomplishments

• Ultimate Fighting Champion in UFC IX
  UFC 9
  UFC 9: Motor City Madness was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on May 17, 1996, at the Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan...
  
  
• 1984 Olympic Champion
• 1985, 87 World Champion
• 1981, 82, 83 NCAA Champion
• 1984, 85, 86, 87 National Open Freestyle Champion
• 1987 Pan American Games Champion
• 1982 World Cup Champion
• 1983, 85, 87 National Sports Festival Champion
• 1978 California High School State Champion
• 1976 Northern California Age (14-15) Gymnastic Champion
• 1982 Unanimously voted "Outstanding Wrestler" at the NCAA Championship
• 1987 USA Wrestling Athlete of the Year
• 1987 Sullivan Award Nominee
• 1987 Olympic Magazine Sportsman of the Year
• 1985 Wrestling Masters Magazine "International Wrestler of the Year"
• 1983 Captain of the University of Oklahoma wrestling team
• 1983 Set the University of Oklahoma record for most victories in a single season without a loss
• 1995 Inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame
• 2000 Inducted into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame.
• 2010 Inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame with his brother Dave Schultz.

External links

Paly Green. Olympic Gold. Fade to Black.