2015 WIAC Hall of Fame Induction Video
Won three Wisconsin State University Conference championships in wrestling at Stout before going on to become an Olympic medal winner in 1972 and 1976. He won a silver medal in his first Olympic try and a gold medal two years ago. He continues to train and expects to participate in the 1980 Olympic trials. Honors gained on the way to the Olympics have been numerous. He was a member of the U.S. World Team in 1971 and '73; traveled to Russia and Poland on exchange teams in 1972, '73, '74 and '76; was a World Cup gold medalist in 1973 and '75 and AAU champion in 1973, '75 and '78. Peterson received his bachelor's degree from Stout in 1971. He is an active member in Athletes in Action, a branch of the Campus Crusade for Christ. Although Peterson travels nationally with Athletes in Action, he calls Lancaster, Pa. home at the present time. (this was written at the time of Peterson's induction in 1978)
From the UW-Stout 125 Anniversary Celebration (2015)
John Peterson medals at the Olympics
John Peterson ’71, earned an Olympic gold medal in the 180.5 pound freestyle class of wrestling in competition at Montreal in July 1976. He won the honors defeating Mehmet Uzun of Turkey, 13-5. The 27 year-old Peterson had previously captured a silver medal at the Munich Olympics in 1972.
Peterson told the Stout Alumnus he was influenced by many people at the university, including his coach Sten Pierce. “He taught me to work hard in practice situations as well as in competition,” Peterson said. “The emphasis he put on it played a big part in my being able to do well later on.”
Peterson wrestled for the Blue Devils from 1968-71, earning three conference titles (1969, 160 pounds, 1970, 167 pounds and 1971, 167 pounds). The 1970 squad captured the conference team title. Peterson earned NAIA All-America honors in 1971, when he finished fifth at 167 pounds.
Honors gained on the way to the Olympics were numerous. He was a member of the U.S. World Team in 1971 and ’73; travelled to Russia and Poland on exchange teams in 1972, ’73 and ’75; and AAU champion in 1973, ’75 and ’78.
In addition to his Olympic feats, Peterson was a four-time AAU national champion, a silver medal winner at the 1971 World Championship and a bronze medal winner at the 1973 World Championship.
Peterson is a charter member of the UW-Stout Athletic Hall of Fame, is in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the NAIA District 14 Hall of Fame and was recently inducted into the WIAC Hall of fame in 2015. The award for the top wrestler at the WIAC championship is named in his honor.
Inducted into the WIAC Hall of Fame (2015)
John Peterson used his career at UW-Stout as a stepping stone. After winning three conference wrestling titles, Peterson went on to earn national and international laurels, including an Olympic silver medal in 1972 and a gold medal in 1976.
Peterson wrestled for the Blue Devils from 1968-71, earning three conference titles (1969-160 pounds, 1970-167 pounds and 1971-167 pounds). The 1970 squad captured the conference team title. Peterson earned NAIA All-America honors in 1971, when he finished fifth at 167 pounds.
He qualified for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, in the 180.5 pound freestyle class and won the silver with his only loss coming to the gold medal winner. Four years later, overcoming illness and injury, Peterson won gold in Montreal, Canada, in the same weight class.
In addition to his Olympic feats, Peterson was a four-time AAU National Champion, a silver medal winner at the 1971 World Championship and a bronze medal winner at the 1973 World Championship.
Peterson is a member of the National Wrestling, NAIA District 14 and UW-Stout halls of fame. The award for the top wrestler at the WIAC championship is named in his honor. In 2012, Peterson was named to the WIAC Wrestling All-Time Team in conjunction with the conference’s Centennial Celebration.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial education and resides in Comstock, Wis.
From a 2012 news story marking the Olympics
Peterson to Olympians: Keep success, failure in perspective
August 13, 2012
John Peterson realized a dream 40 years ago when he won a silver medal in wrestling at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany.
When the University of Wisconsin-Stout graduate and Comstock native returned home, the significance of what he had accomplished began to sink in.
“I had no idea that it would be such a big deal,” Peterson said. “The governor (of Wisconsin) came up to our little town and about 3,000 people gathered in the hayfield of our neighbor, who had organized this homecoming. It amazed me and still does.”
Life would never be the same for Peterson, who would add to his fame four years later by going unbeaten in the Olympics in Montreal, winning a gold medal in the same 180.5-pound weight class.
With the Summer Olympics in London ending Sunday, Peterson has some advice for the athletes returning home this week — with medals or without — who put everything they had into their sport.
“My main advice would be this, and in some ways it’s hard to say this: You have to make something else more important in your life than a medal. If not, then there’s a danger,” Peterson said.
Peterson’s focus in life has been his religious faith. He has worked for Athletes in Action, a Christian-based international organization, since 1973. His faith in God helped him keep his life in perspective after his Olympic career ended, he said.
He has used his fame to open doors in his ministry around the U.S. and world, he said. He is a volunteer coach with USA Wrestling and annually attends the NCAA tournament. Last year he took a team to Hungary. He knows many U.S. wrestlers who competed in London and followed their matches.
He works each year at a wrestling camp for high school students run by his brother, Ben, who also won Olympic gold and silver medals. He does AIA Bible studies with wrestlers at three colleges in Minnesota. He also took Christian wrestlers to Mongolia in June, a place he has visited many times through AIA.
“I’m really appreciative of the opportunities I’ve had being an Olympic champion. It has helped tremendously with the ministry,” he said.
Olympic wrestling rules have changed significantly since the 1970s, and so have the Olympics, Peterson said. In the 1970s professional athletes couldn’t compete.
“The whole Olympic movement has become much more commercialized. There are some good and bad things to that. But some things never change, the competitive attitude of athletes and their desire to perform well. It’s amazing athleticism, and that never changes,” he said.
He graduated from UW-Stout in 1971 with a degree in industrial education and taught for one year at Madison West High School. He left teaching to focus on his wrestling, which paid off with the gold medal four years later.
UW-Stout no longer has a wrestling team. Peterson, who won three conference titles at UW-Stout, this year was named to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference wrestling all-time team.
Peterson, 63, graduated from Cumberland High School. He lives in the farmhouse where he grew up. He and his wife, Nancy, have five children and four grandchildren.
