COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Long-time Edinboro University Director of Athletics Bruce Baumgartner was unanimously voted the President of USA Wrestling on Saturday, August 6. Baumgartner was previously the second Vice President and on Friday night took part in the celebration of the Opening Ceremonies of the Rio Olympics at Colorado Springs. That celebration included Baumgartner lighting the Olympic flame at the Olympic Training Center at Colorado Springs.
 
Baumgartner was described as a living legend of USA Wrestling upon his announcement as President. He affirmed his status as the greatest freestyle wrestler in American history by winning the bronze medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.  It was his fourth Olympic medal and record-setting 13th world-level medal.  Baumgartner was honored by his fellow United States Olympic athletes when he was chosen to carry the American flag for the 1996 opening ceremonies.  He won his first gold medal in Los Angeles in 1984, America's first in 60 years of super heavyweight wrestling.  He added a the silver medal in the 1988 Games in Seoul, Korea, followed by a second gold medal in Barcelona, Spain in 1992. 
               
Baumgartner was honored as the winner of the James E. Sullivan Award in 1995 as the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States.  He did not lose to an American wrestler from 1981 to his retirement in 1998.  He has been inducted into numerous Hall of Fames, including the Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame in 2005.
 
He served as an Edinboro wrestling coach for nearly 13 years, including seven seasons as the head coach.  He compiled a 70-36 record, including a 14-0 dual meet record in 1997, the best finish in school history.  The Fighting Scots then went on to finish sixth at the NCAA Division I National Championships, tied for their highest finish ever until 2014.
               
Baumgartner was honored by the NCAA as a top "Top V Award" recipient for his athletic, leadership and academic success.  He was later awarded an NCAA post-graduate scholarship after earning his bachelor's degree in Industrial Art Education.  He utilized the award to earn a master's degree at Oklahoma State University.
               
While officially retiring from wrestling in 1998, Baumgartner still performs a great deal of community service as a motivational speaker and camp clinician.  He is the president and a board member of USA Wrestling.
 
Baumgartner and his wife, Linda, reside in Edinboro and have three adult sons, Bryan, a former member of the Edinboro cross country and track & field teams, Zachary, a former member of the wrestling team, and Dylan, who is entering his sophomore year at Edinboro. Brian and Zachary both earned their bachelor's degrees from Edinboro.