On a recent edition of the “True Geordie” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle named his work ethic as his greatest gift as an athlete.
Angle said, “My work ethic. I was a good athlete. I wasn’t the best athlete, but I was a pretty good athlete. But it was the work ethic. It was a finding a way to win, and my way to win was to get my opponents tired. So the harder trained, the better well-conditioned I got, the better chance I had at getting those guys tired and beating them. So that was the whole idea in 1995 and ’96 during the World Championships and the Olympic Games was to wear my opponents down, and it worked extremely well.”
Angle also revealed how his late father inspired him to work harder in life and break out of a crybaby stage earlier in his athletic career. He said,
“He was the main reason the lightbulb went off in my head. Before my dad died, I wasn’t focused. I actually wasn’t doing that well. And the documentary [Angle], they say I was a great athlete since when I was born. That’s not true. I was the worst athlete in my family, and that wasn’t bad because everyone in my family were good athletes, but I lost a lot when I was younger. I cried a lot. I was a real crybaby. My family doubted if I’d ever be good at sports. And when my dad died in my freshman year of high school, he told me this the year before he died, he said, ‘You’re gonna be the one.’ And I didn’t understand him, but he knew, for some reason, that I’d break out of this crybaby stage and end up being a great performer. So I didn’t understand what he meant, and when he passed away the next year, I thought, ‘My dad said I was gonna be the one; I gotta start working hard now.’ So I was motivated for him because he’s the one that told me, ‘You’re gonna be the one to pull the family out and make the name famous.’ And I did, and my dad was right.”
Angle won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in 1996 in freestyle wrestling. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017.
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Kurt Angle: The Importance of Work Ethic in Athletic Success
Kurt Angle, a WWE Hall of Famer and Olympic gold medalist, recently shared his thoughts on the key to his success as an athlete. In an interview on the “True Geordie” podcast, Angle revealed that his work ethic was his greatest gift.
Angle acknowledged that while he may not have been the best athlete, his relentless work ethic set him apart from his competitors. He believed that by pushing himself to train harder and improve his conditioning, he could wear down his opponents and increase his chances of victory. This strategy proved to be highly effective during the World Championships and the Olympic Games in 1995 and 1996, where Angle achieved remarkable success.
The former wrestler also credited his late father for inspiring him to work harder and overcome challenges in his athletic career. Angle admitted that before his father’s passing, he lacked focus and struggled in sports. He even described himself as a crybaby and the worst athlete in his family. However, his father’s belief in him changed everything. Before he died, his father told him, “You’re gonna be the one.” Although Angle didn’t fully understand what his father meant at the time, his passing motivated him to start working harder and prove himself.
Motivated by his father’s words, Angle dedicated himself to becoming a great performer and pulling his family out of their doubts. His hard work paid off as he went on to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games in 1996 in freestyle wrestling. Angle’s success continued as he was later inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017.
Angle’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of work ethic in achieving athletic success. While natural talent is undoubtedly valuable, it is the dedication, discipline, and determination to put in the necessary work that truly sets athletes apart. Angle’s example shows that even those who may not be the most gifted can achieve greatness through sheer hard work and perseverance.
As fans of wrestling and sports, we can draw inspiration from Kurt Angle’s journey. His story teaches us that with the right mindset and work ethic, we can overcome obstacles, exceed expectations, and achieve our goals. Angle’s legacy serves as a testament to the power of determination and the impact it can have on an individual’s life and career.
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