Chances are you’ve never heard of Anthony Marc Robles. And why should you, unless you are a fan of the relatively obscure sport of collegiate wrestling? But, Anthony Robles has a very inspiring story to tell; one that we can all profit from hearing.
In July of 2011 at the ESPYs, ESPN’s annual awards show celebrating excellence in sports performance, Anthony was the recipient of two prestigious awards, the Best Male Athlete With a Disability and the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance.
Anthony’s athletic accomplishments are impressive. He went undefeated in his last year at Arizona State University, and he won the 2010-11 NCAA individual wrestling championship in the 125 pound weight class. What makes his achievement rise to the another level of notability is that he did it with only one leg. But, it is his life story and what he said at the ESPYs that elevates Anthony Robles to world class inspirational status.
Despite being born missing one leg, Anthony grew up in a world where he felt he could do anything. It never occurred to him that he couldn’t. His mother wouldn’t stand for it. Anthony reflects that his unstoppable attitude came to him primarily through her example. As a 16 year old mother, from the first moment Judy Robles held him, she recalls, “To me, Anthony was perfect.”
As Anthony grew into childhood, Judy continued to challenge him. “Knowing that he was different, it was kind of like my job as his mom to make sure that he never felt it. Maybe I overdid it in a way. Maybe I wanted him to be so normal that I kind of pushed him.” At this early age when most kids are overly conscious of peer pressure, Anthony refused to wear a prosthetic leg just to fit in even though his parents had saved and sacrificed to buy him one. “I tried to hide it,” as he tells it, “so my mom wouldn’t make me wear it.” She ultimately relented and he didn’t. Anthony was unstoppable.
Anthony also began to develop a love of sports. His brother recalls, “He would play basketball with us, football with us, he had one leg, but I always wanted him to be on my team because he was one of the best.”
In his freshman year of high school Anthony discovered wrestling and joined the school team. At first, he was often soundly beaten. “I was really bad,” Anthony says, “I was a 90-pound kid, tiny. Last in my city. Got pinned all the time.” His mother remembers, “Anthony went out there and he lost. That didn’t matter to me. It showed me his heart, who he was.” But even though oft beaten, Anthony remained unstoppable.
After his freshman year, Anthony’s coach began working with him on a strategy and style that would better suit his body. Soon, it all began to come together. His best friend and teammate recalls, “All of a sudden he was the guy. He was whipping all the other guys, and now they wanted to come in and train with him.”
Anthony went on to win two state championship titles. He was unstoppable.
He then earned a scholarship to Arizona State University and, during his collegiate tenure amassed an incredible overall record of 122 wins to only 23 defeats. His senior year he went 36-0. His career culminated on March 19, 2011 in Philadelphia where he wrestled for the national championship.
As the national anthem played, and Anthony realized that he had reached the moment that had been his dream for so many years, he tried unsuccessfully to fight back the tears. “I was afraid,” he says, and he doesn’t care who knows. His path to the championship hadn’t come easy. His parents divorced while he was in college. His mom became severely ill which caused Anthony to consider leaving college to help support the family. He was burned out from having pushed himself so hard for so long. In that brief moment, not wanting to confront the possibility of losing, Anthony envisioned only two possible outcomes. He could win or he could walk away. The latter thought was quickly brushed aside as he looked up in the stands and glimpsed at his mother. “Mom wouldn’t have me quit,” he thought, “She wouldn’t let me quit.”
Anthony, like all of us, is only human, very human. But, on this night, in this endeavor, in his mind and in his heart, for his mother and to himself, he committed once again to being unstoppable.
Then, he went out and dominated his opponent.
At the ESPY awards, after Anthony Marc Robles accepted the Jimmy V Award given to a sports figure that has overcome great obstacles through determination and perseverance, Anthony shared this powerful message with the audience and the world:
“Every soul who comes to earth with a leg or two at birth,
Must wrestle his opponents knowing it is not what is, it’s what can be that measures worth.
Make it hard, just make it possible,
And through the pain I’ll not complain.
My spirit is unconquerable.
Fearless, I will face each foe, for I know I am capable.
I don’t care what’s probable.
Through blood, sweat and tears,
I am UNSTOPPABLE!”
Have an AWE-Full weekend!
William “Bill” Bacque