Vote online for wrestler James Mastro among Paralympians for U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame as well as John Smith for Olympians

The wrestling community has an opportunity to support a fellow wrestler in the online voting for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame.

James Mastro, who was the first U.S. Paralympian to medal in four different Paralympic sports (wrestling, plus judo, track and field and goalball) is one of eight nominees in the Paralympian Category. Mastro has won 10 Paralympic medals during his career, including five gold medals, and was a seven-time Paralympian.

He joins two-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time World champion men’s freestyle wrestler John Smith on the ballot, who has been named as a finalist in the Olympian category. The selection process has opened and will be available for votes through April 14.

Vote daily for John Smith and James Mastro for U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame

You can vote up to once a day. Vote today and often. You are not required to vote for each category. However, you must click submit on the final page in order for your votes to be processed.

Although wrestling is not currently a Paralympic sport, it was included on the official program at the 1980 and 1984 Paralympic Games. Wrestling was one of the sports that Mastro won Paralympic medals during his career. He also competed in Paralympic Track & Field, Judo and Goalball. He was a flag bearer for the Paralympic Games Atlanta in 1996.

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee biography

James Mastro

Sport: Paralympic Track & Field (Shot put, Javelin), Judo, Goalball, Wrestling

Paralympic Games Experience: Seven-time Paralympian, Ten-time medalist (five gold, two silver, three bronze)

Mastro is a seven-time Paralympian winning ten medals overall, including five gold. He was the first person ever to medal in four different Paralympic sports – judo, wrestling, track and field and goalball.* Mastro was the first blind athlete selected for a U.S. Olympic Team (Greco-Roman wrestling alternate, 1976) and received the Medal of Courage from the United States National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2008.  In 1995, he was the World Judo Champion for the Blind. For his performance, he was honored as the United States Olympic Committee Blind Athlete of the Year. The next year, he was honored as the flag bearer for the Paralympic Games Atlanta. He won freestyle wrestling gold medals in three Paralympic Games - in Toronto in 1976, in Holland in 1980 and in New York in 1984.

Mastro was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2008 with the Medal of Courage. He was a college wrestler for Augsburg, and also competed on the Senior level in both Greco-Roman and freestyle.

National Wrestling Hall of Fame biography

Dr. James Mastro

Being blind since birth has never kept James Mastro from visualizing and reaching his goals.

Mastro was a varsity wrestler for Augsburg College in Minneapolis, winning the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in 1972. Shortly afterward, he turned his attention to the international styles of wrestling. In 1972, he qualified for the final Olympic Trials in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.

He placed in the top five at the Greco-Roman national championships three years straight, finishing third twice and fifth in 1976. Mastro again qualified for the Olympic Trials in both styles, finishing third in Greco and earning an alternate spot on the 1976 Olympic team.

He dominated competition in the United States Association for Blind Athletes National Championships winning eight gold medals between 1976 and 1987 and finishing second twice. He won freestyle wrestling gold medals in three Paralympics, in Toronto in 1976, in Arnheim, Holland in 1980 and in New York in 1984.

Wrestling, however, was not his only sport. Mastro has competed in the Paralympics seven times, winning 10 medals in four different sports: wrestling, judo, track and field, and goalball. In 1995, he was the World Judo Champion for the Blind. For his performance, he was honored as the United States Olympic Committee Blind Athlete of the Year. The next year, he was honored as the flag bearer for the Paralympics in Atlanta. He is also in the National Beep Baseball Hall of Fame.

Mastro was the first individual with a visual impairment to earn a Ph. D. in physical education in the United States. He is a tenured full professor of physical and professional education at Bemidji State University and has authored or co-authored 47 published articles and 26 presentations on adapted and developmental physical education.

Since 1970, Mastro has remained active outside of his competitive career, coaching wrestling, judo and track and working with junior high, high school and college student athletes, both abled and disabled.

There will be three Paralympians elected into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame Class of 2025. The other Paralympian nominees are: Steve Cash (Sled Hockey), Bart Dodson (track & field), Susan Hagel (wheelchair basketball, archery, track & field), Sharon Rahn Hedrick (track & field, basketball, swimming), Cortney Jordan (swimming), Brad Parks (tennis, Marla Runyan (track & field), Andy Soule (Nordic Skiing),

Vote daily for John Smith and James Mastro for U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame

PRESS RELEASE: Vote online daily for two-time Olympic champion wrestler John Smith for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame; stand up for wrestling!!!