John Peterson (wrestler) explained

John Peterson
Birth Place:	Cumberland, Wisconsin, U.S.
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John Allan Peterson (born October 22, 1948) is an American former wrestler and Olympic champion in freestyle wrestling.^[1]

Wrestling career

Peterson grew up in Comstock, Wisconsin, attending nearby Cumberland High School before graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 1971.^{[2] [3]}

He would place fifth at the 1971 NAIA Men's Wrestling Championships as a collegiate wrestler, before jumping levels the following year to make the 1972 USA freestyle wrestling team, where he earned a silver medal in the 82 kg weight class.^[4] At the following 1976 Summer Olympics, he won the gold medal at 82 kg.^[5] Peterson's younger brother, Ben Peterson, also competed in both the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics as a freestyle wrestler, winning a gold medal in 1972 and silver medal in 1976.

In 1986, Peterson was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member.^[6]

Notes and References

1. John Peterson . June 21, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150802001211/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pe/john-peterson-1.html . August 2, 2015 .
2. Bill Stokes "Comstock Salutes Its Heroes" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel September 14, 1972.
3. Web site: 1978 Inductees. UW-Stout Athletic Hall of Fame . University of Wisconsin – Stout .
4. Web site: 1972 Summer Olympics – München, Germany – Wrestling . databaseOlympics.com . September 13, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080919044337/http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=18&sp=WRE . September 19, 2008 .
5. Web site: 1976 Summer Olympics – Montreal, Canada – Wrestling . databaseOlympics.com . September 13, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080917043704/http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=19&sp=WRE . September 17, 2008 .
6. https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame/bio/70 John Peterson