Abraham Lincoln: The US President who honed his political skills through wrestling
Find out how the 16th President of the United States became a county champion wrestler, why he was celebrated for a victory in Illinois, and who the only person to beat him in 12 years was.
Wrestling
Abraham Lincoln is one of the most famous politicians in history, but it is less known that he had an equally impressive wrestling career.
That’s right, before the 16th President of the United States started grappling with political opponents, he was throwing down rivals on the mat.
To some degree it makes sense: ‘Honest Abe’ was tall, strong, and boasted natural athleticism.
As a teenager, when he wasn’t doing agricultural work, the Kentucky native competed in catch-as-catch-can wrestling - also known as catch wrestling - which is a tough, hand-to-hand version of the sport that was included in the Olympic Games St. Louis 1904.
Elements of the sport can still be seen in freestyle wrestling, folkstyle wrestling, and mixed martial arts.
Abraham Lincoln: A legendary wrestling story
High school and college wrestling didn’t exist in the 1800s, but BlackBeltMag highlights that Lincoln was a county wrestling champion at the age of 21.
After moving to the village of New Salem, Illinois, the owner of a shop where Lincoln worked called Denton Offut reportedly put his gifted employee forward for local bouts as a way of promoting his business.
Rumours of the six-foot-four (1.95m) grappler’s talents began to spread, and he was soon challenged to a match against Jack Armstrong, the local champion and leader of a local group of bullies, outside the shop.
The story goes that Lincoln needed convincing, but eventually agreed to participate under the rules of side holds - where either man could throw his opponent to the ground - and a large crowd gathered in anticipation.
During the match, the future U.S. President was enraged by Armstrong’s underhand tactics but held his ground, and Armstrong eventually conceded, admitting that Lincoln was ‘the best feller'.
It was the nineteenth century’s equivalent of Jordan Burroughs versus Kyle Dake at the Tokyo 2020 trials, such was the anticipation for the contest, and Lincoln became a hometown hero.
Abraham Lincoln's one wrestling defeat
Lincoln went on to study and practise law before entering politics, but continued to wrestle and reportedly amassed 300 victories over 12 years.
His only known defeat came at the hands of Hank Thompson during the Black Hawk War of 1832, where Lincoln was serving with the Illinois Volunteers.
As expected, he took the defeat with grace and congratulated the better man.
Mainstream descriptions of Lincoln’s sporting career first surfaced in 1858, during the campaign in Illinois for the U.S. Senate, with the strength and endurance associated with wrestling seen as important characteristics for a senior politician.
Wrestling: The favourite sport of several US Presidents
Lincoln’s wrestling legacy, although overshadowed by his many achievements in office, still exists today.
In 1992, he was officially recognised by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as an “Outstanding American” in the sport.
A wrestling-obsessed town called Lincoln in Nebraska was also named after the President in 1969, following his assassination in 1865.
Fittingly, it is the same town that London 2012 Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs was based out of during his college years, and subsequently during an unbelievably successful period in his career.
But Lincoln isn’t the only U.S. President to be associated with the sport. Other wrestlers who made it to the White House include George Washington, Franklin Pierce, Andrew Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt, and William Taft.
Whether it’s the mental strength athletes need to have to outfox opponents and endure pain, or it’s the relentless dedication they put into practice, there’s something about wrestling that fosters success.