Gable to attend RAGBRAI festivities

Dan Gable has been the premiere ambassador for the sport of wrestling, and one of Iowa's sports legends. The legendary University of Iowa wrestling coach, who became an Olympic champion after competing at Iowa State and Waterloo West in high school and college, will attend the state's top cycling event in his hometown.   

Gable will be available for pictures and autographs before conducting a workout with former Hawkeye national champ and new University of Northern Iowa head wrestling coach Doug Schwab and his training partner. The events will be held at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo on Thursday, July 29. He will also meet RAGBRAI riders later that evening.

Here is the release from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum:

Iowa's greatest sports figure will be in Waterloo, Iowa, on Thursday, July 29 for RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) sponsored by the Des Moines Register.

Dan Gable, a native of Waterloo, is arguably the greatest coach and athlete ever. In 1972 Gable won the Olympic Games in freestyle wrestling without surrendering a point. As the head wrestling coach at the University of Iowa from 1977-1997, he led his teams to 15 NCAA titles in 21 years.

“As a former member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness, I'm proud to be associated with an event that promotes health and the City of Waterloo,” said Gable. “Being one of 12 Olympic wrestling champions from Iowa allows me to promote fitness and this sport.”

Gable will be at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum at 4 p.m. for pictures and autographs. At 5 p.m. Gable will put Doug Schwab and his training partner through a Gable-style workout in the Dan Gable Teaching Center located inside the Dan Gable Museum.

Gable's workouts are known worldwide for their intensity.

Schwab, an NCAA champion and three-time All-American for the University of Iowa, was recently named the head wrestling coach at the University of Northern Iowa. He was recruited to Iowa by Gable in 1996.

At 8 p.m. Gable will welcome all RAGBRAI riders to Waterloo at Lost Island Water Park.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum is located at 303 Jefferson St. in Waterloo, Iowa. For more information call (319) 233-0745 or e-mail info@wrestlingmuseum.org.