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Steven Howard "Steve" Fraser (born March 23, 1958) is an American Greco-Roman wrestler and coach. He was the 1984 Olympic Games gold medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling, in the 90 kg weight class. Fraser's gold medal was the first ever for the United States in Greco-Roman wrestling.[1]

Steve Fraser
Personal information
Full nameSteven Howard Fraser
Born (1958-03-23) March 23, 1958 (age 66)
Hazel Park, Michigan, U.S.
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportWrestling
Weight class90 kg
Event(s)Greco-Roman and Folkstyle
College teamMichigan
ClubMichigan Wrestling Club
TeamUSA
Coached byRonald Finley
Medal record
Men's Greco-Roman wrestling
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1984 Los Angeles 90 kg
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1983 Caracas 90 kg

A native of Hazel Park, Michigan, Fraser was a Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) state wrestling champion. In college he was a two-time All-American wrestler, wrestling at the University of Michigan. Fraser's gold medal was the first ever Olympic gold in Greco-Roman wrestling for the United States. The next night following Fraser's gold medal performance, Jeff Blatnick won a second gold medal for the U.S. Greco-Roman Olympic team. Fraser served as coach of the U.S. Greco Roman team from 1997 to 2014. Rulon Gardner who was a gold medalist at the 2000 Olympic Games, credits Fraser's instruction as a large part of his wrestling success. The year Fraser competed at the Olympics in 1984, the United States won 9 gold medals in wrestling, the most at a single Olympics in American wrestling history.

Fraser was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1994 and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.[2]

References

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