Wrestling superstar Bruce Baumgartner honored upon his retirement at New York Athletic Club as part of "Wrestling for the Next Millennium Dinner" 
 The wrestling community celebrated the career of one of its greatest ever, and launched a campaign to strengthen the sport for the future on Friday, July 24.   
 Four-time Olympic medalist Bruce Baumgartner of Cambridge Springs, Pa., was  honored upon his retirement as part of the "Wrestling For the Next Millennium Dinner," which was held at the New York Athletic Club in New York City. The special function was held the night prior to the freestyle wrestling competition at the Goodwill Games, set for the Theater in Madison Square Garden, July 25-26.    
 Family, friends and many of the greatest wrestlers in history were on hand to honor Baumgartner, who is recognized as one of the greatest Olympic athletes of all time. 
   Baumgartner thanked many of the people who helped him throughout his career, citing his teammates, coaches, fans for assisting him to reach his goals. He also recognized the efforts of USA Wrestling and the U.S. Olympic Committee, plus his club, the New York Athletic Club, for their support. 
  "I want to thank the people most affected by my career - Bob and Lois, my parents," he said. "This honor this evening is especially important to me because I can share it with my family. Without their support, it would be have been different for me."   
 "The person who deserves the most credit is my wife Linda. She has sacrificed the most. It would have all been impossible if it wasn't for Linda's support," he said.   
 Baumgartner won gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, as well as a silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. He also won three World Championship gold medals (1986, 1993, 1995). 
  He was bestowed with the ultimate honor for a U.S. Olympic athlete when he was selected by his peers to serve as the U.S. flagbearer for the Opening Ceremonies at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Ga. He was also selected as the 1995 James E. Sullivan Award winner, as the nation's top amateur athlete, one of only two wrestlers to ever receive this prestigious award. 
  Baumgartner currently serves as the athletic director at Edinboro University, where he was the head wrestling coach for seven years. He and his wife Linda have three sons, Bryan, Zachary and Dylan. 
  Baumgartner is the most successful athlete in international wrestling history, with a record 13 World or Olympic medals. He is also the only freestyle wrestler from any nation to win four Olympic medals. He holds a host of U.S. wrestling records, including the most Senior National titles (17), most Olympic medals (4), most World medals (9), most World Cup gold medals (8), most Pan American Games medals (4), most Goodwill Games medals (3), and many others. 
  Among the Olympic Champion wrestlers on hand to celebrate with Bruce were two-time Olympic champion John Smith (1988, 1992), plus Olympic champions Dan Gable (1972), Kendall Cross (1996), Jeff Blatnick (1984), and Shelby Wilson (1960). 
  Baumgartner also received a special presentation, original artwork of Baumgartner created by world-famous artist LeRoy Neiman. Neiman, a former wrestler, was on hand for the presentation. In addition, a special video presentation with highlights of Baumgartner's career was also unveiled.   
 The dinner was also the kick-off event for "Wrestling For The Next Millennium," a historic joint capital campaign for USA Wrestling, the National Wrestling Coaches Association and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. The campaign brings the leaders of wrestling together, working for a common goal. The success of this campaign will make a major difference in making wrestling an even greater sport in the future. 
  Scott A. Beck, the Campaign Chairperson, introduced the new campaign, which will benefit the sport on the youth, scholastic, collegiate and Olympic levels. A major business leader and a former wrestler, until April 1998, Beck served as co-chairman, President and a Director of Boston Chicken, Inc. 
  The honorary co-chairpersons for the campaign, Dan Gable and Nancy Schultz, also gave their remarks on the upcoming campaign. 
  Gable, an Olympic and World Champion, is the most famous wrestler in U.S. history. He also was the greatest college wrestling coach of all time, and the head coach of two U.S. Olympic teams. 
  "To me, this is important. America needs wrestling to survive, and I really mean it," said Gable. "There are still people who do not know about our sport." 
  "We are going into this as one campaign, one body. We have to make sure that people understand that we are all under one blanket," he said. 
  Schultz is the wife of the late David Schultz, a World and Olympic Champion who was killed in 1996. She has developed the Dave Schultz Wrestling Foundation, which supports the Olympic dreams of over 100 elite men and women wrestlers in the United States. 
  "I have seen skinny little kids watch their wrestling heroes, and seen them grow up to follow in their footsteps," she said. "I saw wrestling work its magic, with positive values such as disciple, self esteem and work ethic. Wrestling changes people. They have the ability to take leadership roles in all aspects of life." 
 For more information, please contact USA Wrestling at 719-598-8181.