Ellis Coleman

Last updated

Ellis Coleman
Ellis Coleman 2013.jpg
Coleman in 2013
Personal information
Born (1991-08-16) August 16, 1991 (age 32)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S. [1]
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight67 kg (148 lb)
Sport
CountryUnited States
Sport Wrestling
Event Greco-Roman
ClubIllinois RTC
TeamUSA
Medal record
Representing the Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Men's Greco-Roman wrestling
Pan American Games
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2019 Lima 67 kg
Pan American Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2010 Monterrey67 kg
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2014 Mexico City67 kg
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2019 Buenos Aires 67 kg
US Open Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2013 Las Vegas (OW)67 kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2016 Las Vegas67 kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2017 Las Vegas67 kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2018 Las Vegas67 kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2019 Las Vegas67 kg
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg2014 Las Vegas67 kg
Junior World Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg2010 Budapest66 kg
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg2011 Bucharest66 kg

Ellis Coleman (born August 16, 1991) is an American wrestler from Chicago who won the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials to compete for the United States team in the Greco-Roman 60 kg competition of Wrestling at the 2012 Summer Olympics at the 2012 Olympics. [2] Coleman overcame challenging life conditions after being enrolled in youth wrestling classes. As a high school senior for Oak Park and River Forest High School finished third in the state wrestling championships. On several occasions, Coleman executed a takedown by jumping over his opponent and grabbing him as he flew over his back. Coleman is sometimes referred to as the Flying Squirrel for this takedown move that he has made famous. [3]

Contents

Background

Coleman was raised by his single mother, Yolanda Barral, in Chicago, Illinois. Coleman describes his biological father, Lewellis Coleman, as a person who was "in and out of jail [his] whole life." [4] Apart from visiting him in jail, the only memory he has of his father is the time his father sold all the family's televisions and the PlayStation for drugs. [5] Federal records describe his biological father as a "career offender" with 19 aliases. [4]

His mother raised the family, including Coleman's brother (Lillashawn) [4] and sister, [5] in the Humboldt Park community area, then the West Side and finally Oak Park. [4] Coleman describes his stepfather as a long-time gang member with an extensive criminal record. After enduring formative years with gunfights outside elementary school, home loss due to an apartment fire, and expulsion hearings, his stepfather, Mose Oliver, introduced him to wrestling to keep him out of trouble. [4] Federal records confirm that Oliver is an alleged 1990's gang enforcer who served time from 2004 to 2011 for participation in Operation Day Trader. [4] The wrestling started in about 2001. [6] By sixth grade both his father and stepfather were incarcerated and his father figure was his wrestling coach, Mike Powell. [7] Coleman attended Ella Flagg Young elementary school. [4] Barral raised her family with little assistance away from the gang influences of the West Side. [8] She applied for section 8 assistance. [4] Coleman, who was nearly expelled as a sophomore, [4] graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park, Illinois in 2009. He studied at Northern Michigan University. [9]

Wrestling career

As a high school senior at the 2009 Illinois High School Association Class 3A tournament, Coleman endured his only loss of the season to Maxamillian Schneider of Lane Technical College Prep High School to finish third and end the season with a 49–1 record. [10] Following the loss, his heart rate reached 225, necessitating treatment by paramedics. [4]

In 2011, a video of Coleman was posted to YouTube. [11] Subsequently, Coleman gained a cult-following for the recording of him performing a move at the 2011 Junior World Championships that he calls "The Flying Squirrel", which involves somersaulting over his opponent just before his takedown. [12] [13] [14] He has performed the move at the 2009 Sunkist Open against Joe Betterman. [4] He also performed the move against Iran's Mehdi Zidvand in the quarter finals at the 2011 Junior World Championships. [4] [10] Coleman claims he has used the "Flying Squirrel" move over a dozen times in competition. [3] His successful attempt of the move at the 2011 Junior World Championships made the number 1 on SportsCenters Top 10 Plays and was ranked third on the ESPN 2011 Best of the Best Highlights. [15] [16] He appeared on ESPN's morning shows, such as ESPN First Take . [4] The move made him so famous that he received lucrative offers to begin a professional wrestling career, but he declined in favor of continuing his Olympic dream. [5] Coleman credits his brother for the move. [6] Ellis is a five-time Greco-Roman US Open champion in (2013, 2016–2019) winning the Outstanding Wrestler Award in 2013.

Ellis defeated Betterman 2 to 0 at the finals of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. [2] [16] Coleman had attended Betterman's wrestling clinics when he was younger. [3] Coleman was the youngest member of the American wrestling delegation at the 2012 Olympics. [5] After Coleman qualified for the Olympics, he realized that his mother, who works in customer service for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, could not afford to attend due to financial hardship. Coleman was living at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs on a limited monthly stipend from the United States Olympic Committee and could not assist her. Mike Powell, Coleman's coach at Oak Park, rented Coleman's family a one-bedroom flat in London out of personal funds and the Oak Park High School wrestling program subsequently raised $14,000 to ensure that his mother, aunt and siblings could attend. [8] Coleman dropped from the 66 kg division to the 60 kg division for the Olympics. [17] Coleman lost in the first round of Olympic competition to Ivo Angelov of Bulgaria by a 3–1 score. [18]

2012 Olympic American gymnast Gabby Douglas also became known for the nickname "Flying Squirrel". [19] In an attempt to solidify his nickname while training in Colorado Springs, Coleman purchased a pet flying squirrel that he keeps in a cage and feeds apples. [20] [21] His Twitter handle is @daFlyinSquirrel. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greco-Roman wrestling</span> Style of amateur wrestling

Greco-Roman, Graeco-Roman, classic wrestling is a style of wrestling that is practiced worldwide. Greco-Roman wrestling was included in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been in every edition of the summer Olympics held since 1904. This style of wrestling forbids holds below the waist, which is the main feature that differentiates it from freestyle wrestling. This restriction results in an emphasis on throws, because a wrestler cannot use trips to bring an opponent to the ground or hook/grab the opponent's leg to avoid being thrown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freestyle wrestling</span> Style of Wrestling

Freestyle wrestling is a style of wrestling. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic Games. High school wrestling and men's collegiate wrestling in the United States are conducted under different rules and termed scholastic and collegiate wrestling. U.S. collegiate women's wrestling is conducted under freestyle rules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randy Couture</span> American Greco-Roman wrestler and mixed martial artist

Randall Duane Couture is an American mixed martial arts commentator, actor, former United States Army sergeant, former professional mixed martial artist, and former collegiate and Greco-Roman wrestler. During his tenures in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), he became a three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, an interim UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, making him a six-time UFC Champion and the UFC 13 Heavyweight Tournament winner. He is the first of nine fighters to hold two UFC championship titles in two different divisions. He currently serves as a commentator and analyst for the Professional Fighters League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oak Park and River Forest High School</span> Public secondary school in Oak Park, Illinois, United States

Oak Park and River Forest High School (OPRF) is a public four-year high school located in Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is the only school in Oak Park and River Forest District 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armen Nazaryan</span> Armenian Greco-Roman wrestler

Armen Nazaryan is an Armenian Greco-Roman wrestler who later represented Bulgaria. Nazaryan is a two-time Olympic Champion, a three-time World Champion, and a six-time European Champion. After Armenia regained independence in 1991, Nazaryan became the first Olympic gold medalist for the country. He was recognized by the FILA as the best wrestler of the year in 1998 and 2003. In 2007, Nazaryan was inducted as a member of the FILA Hall of Fame.

Oak Forest High School is a public high school located in Oak Forest, Illinois. It is part of Bremen Community High School District 228 which also includes Tinley Park High School, Hillcrest High School and Bremen High School. It serves most of the community of Oak Forest, as well as portions of Midlothian and Crestwood in Bremen Township in the south suburbs of Chicago in Cook County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tinley Park High School</span> Public secondary school in Tinley Park, Illinois, United States

Tinley Park High School, TPHS or simply Tinley is a public high school located in Tinley Park, Illinois, approximately 30 miles southwest of Chicago. It is part of Bremen Community High School District 228 which also includes Oak Forest High School, Hillcrest High School and Bremen High School.

William "Bill" Weick was an American wrestler and coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Schurz High School</span> Public secondary school in Chicago, Illinois, United States

Carl Schurz High School is a public 4–year high school located in the Irving Park neighborhood on the northwest side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. The school is named after German–American Carl Schurz, a statesman, soldier, and advocate of democracy in Germany. The school building, which represents a combination of the Chicago and Prairie schools of architecture, was designed in 1910 by Dwight H. Perkins and designated a Chicago Landmark on December 7, 1979. It is considered one of "150 great places in Illinois" by the American Institute of Architects. The AIA has described the school as Perkins's masterpiece, "an important example of early-twentieth century architecture, utilizing elements of both the Chicago and Prairie schools." In celebration of the 2018 Illinois Bicentennial, Carl Schurz High School was selected as one of the Illinois 200 Great Places by the American Institute of Architects Illinois component.

Thornwood High School is a public high school located in South Holland, Illinois, United States. It was built as part of Thornton Township High School District 205. It opened in 1971 to accommodate overcrowding at other District 205 schools, Thornridge High and Thornton Township High School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drew Peterson</span> American former police sergeant and convicted murderer

Drew Walter Peterson is an American convicted murderer and former Bolingbrook, Illinois, police sergeant who was found guilty in 2012 of the murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, a few months after their 2003 divorce. Peterson first received national publicity in 2007 when his fourth wife, Stacy Ann Cales Peterson, disappeared. Although the police and Stacy Ann's family suspect foul play, she has never been found.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Pickens</span> American gridiron football player (1943–2018)

Bob Pickens was a player in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted in the third round of the 1966 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears and played three seasons with the team.

Ivo Serafimov Angelov is an amateur Bulgarian Greco-Roman wrestler, who played for the men's lightweight category. In 2011, Angelov had won a bronze medal for his division at the World Wrestling Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, and silver at the European Wrestling Championships in Dortmund, Germany. Angelov is also a member of Lovech Wrestling Club, and is coached and trained by Bratan Tzenov.

Flying squirrel is a tribe of 44 species of squirrel

Luis Ygnacio Liendo is an amateur Venezuelan Greco-Roman wrestler, who competes in the men's lightweight category. He won two bronze medals for the 60 kg division at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Liendo also defeated United States wrestler Joe Betterman for the gold medal in the same division at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, earning him a spot on the Venezuelan wrestling team for the Olympics.

Erwin José Caraballo Cabrera is an amateur Venezuelan Greco-Roman wrestler, who competes in the men's heavyweight category. He won two bronze medals for the 96 kg division at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Caraballo also defeated Mexico's Joel López for the gold medal in the same division at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. Caraballo is a member of the wrestling team for La Puente Sporting Club, and is coached and trained by Milcho Radulovski.

James Matthew Gruenwald is a retired amateur American Greco-Roman wrestler, who competed in the men's lightweight category. He won three U.S. national titles, picked up a bronze medal in the 60-kg division at the 2003 Pan American Games, and represented the United States in two editions of the Olympic Games, finishing sixth in Sydney and tenth in Athens respectively. Since his sporting career ended in late 2004, Gruenwald served as an assistant coach for the Greco-Roman wrestling team at the United States Olympic Training Center in Marquette, Michigan from 2005 - 2009, and currently, heads the Wheaton College wrestling program in Illinois.

Kamal Ameer Bey is an American Greco-Roman wrestler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alejandro Sancho</span> American Greco-Roman wrestler (born 1994)

Alejandro Sancho is an American Greco-Roman wrestler.

References

  1. ↑ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Ellis Coleman". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Branch, John (April 22, 2012). "The Face of U.S. Wrestling Will Change for the Games". The New York Times . Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 "Coleman earns bid to London Games". Fox Sports . April 22, 2012. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Hamilton, Brian (June 30, 2012). "Coleman's 'iron will': Oak Park wrestler endures, well, just about everything to make Olympic team". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Pitts, Byron (June 21, 2012). "Wrestler Ellis Coleman takes the "flying squirrel" move to the Olympics". CBS Sports . Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  6. 1 2 ""Flying Squirrel" Ellis Coleman Ready For London". NBCChicago. June 29, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  7. ↑ Mastony, Colleen (June 15, 2011). "Coach weakened by disease inspires wrestlers: Former college All-American came to embody the values he preached". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  8. 1 2 St. Clair, Stacy (June 30, 2012). "Flying mother will see 'Flying Squirrel': Yolanda Barral on her way to watch son in London". Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on July 26, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  9. ↑ "USA Wrestling". TheMat.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  10. 1 2 "Wrestling - Oak Park grad Ellis Coleman goes viral with flying takedown". Chicago Tribune . August 2, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  11. ↑ St. Clair, Stacy and K.C. Johnson (July 26, 2012). "Olympians with Illinois connections". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  12. ↑ Treadway, Daniel (August 1, 2011). "Ellis Coleman's Amazing Flying Greco-Roman Wrestling Takedown (VIDEO)". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Ellis 'The Flying Squirrel' Coleman rolling with Ben Askren (video)". Prommanow.com. August 2, 2011. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  14. ↑ "College Wrestling: Ellis Coleman's Incredible Leaping Takedown". Bleacher Report. August 2, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  15. ↑ Match of the Day: Ellis Coleman. teams.org. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  16. 1 2 Hersh, Philip (April 22, 2012). "Coleman earns spot on U.S. Olympic team: Wins Greco-Roman 132-pound class at trials". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  17. ↑ "American Coleman to cage 'Flying Squirrel'". NBC. July 26, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Men's 60kg Greco-Roman". London2012.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  19. 1 2 St. Clair, Stacy (July 25, 2012). "'Flying squirrel' wrestler on his pet flying squirrel: 'He bites me all the time'". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  20. ↑ Mihoces, Gary (July 25, 2012). "Called 'Flying Squirrel,' Ellis Coleman owns one, too". USA Today . Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  21. ↑ Smith, Cameron (July 25, 2012). "Ellis 'The Flying Squirrel' Coleman has a real flying squirrel for a pet, and his name is Rocky". Yahoo! Sports . Retrieved July 28, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.