Memories Lead to Movie : Former Iowa Star Wrestler and Legendary Coach Dan Gable to be Featured on HBO

As a youngster watching the 1972 Olympics, David Gould found himself drawn to gold-medalist Dan Gable, perhaps the greatest U.S. wrestler ever.

Gould, a wrestler himself, was enthralled by Gable’s drive and endurance, by the way he wore down his opponents and pounced at the first sign of weakness.

“He really got to me,” Gould said.

Years later, when he saw Gable working at a summer camp, he once again became fascinated. Gable was such a compelling figure. There was a story just waiting to be told.

In the end, Gould decided he wanted to be the one to tell it.

The result is “Gable,” a feature-length documentary detailing Gable’s life and the last of his 21 years as coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, a season he finished on crutches after a hip replacement. HBO Signature, which primarily shows documentaries, recently bought the rights to air it through 2000.

“I had a hunch he had something to teach people,” said Gould, an Iowa City filmmaker. “I felt there was something about Gable I had to learn, and I felt other people would want to watch it and learn, too.”

More than just a flowery tribute to its subject, “Gable” delves into the tragedies and disappointments of his life as well as his successes.

The documentary recounts the murder of Gable’s older sister, Diane, and the effect it had on him and his parents. It revisits his loss to Larry Owings in the 1970 NCAA finals, Gable’s only defeat in 183 college and high school matches. And it recalls the end of Iowa’s nine-year run as the NCAA team champion.

There are humorous moments as well, such as a clip of Gable giving Dick Cavett a hip toss to a well-padded mat during Cavett’s late-night talk show.

“When I talked to him, I said ... I didn’t want to do a vanity piece. I wanted to get into what made him tick,” Gould said of Gable. “He said that was absolutely fine. Even though we got into his setbacks, I felt it turned out to be a positive story.”

Gould came up with the idea in spring 1996, the season before Gable was to retire as Iowa’s coach. Once he had Gable’s permission, Gould sought production help from the University of Iowa Video Center.

Dan Lind, the head of the center, teamed Gould with director Kevin Kelley and photographer Bryan Less, who had worked with Gould on other projects. Lind became executive producer.

“It was an easy sell,” Lind said. “Here was one of our own, and we needed to follow through on him.”

The one hangup was money. Gould eventually raised $100,000, just enough to cover expenses. No one received a salary in the three years it took to make the film.

“Knowing it was my last year, they just went along with it,” Gable said. “They did an excellent job of staying out of people’s way. They hid behind bleachers, they hid behind poles.”

The film devotes 10 to 12 minutes on Gable’s loss to Owings as a senior at Iowa State. It was one of the most shocking upsets in sports, an athlete who was considered unbeatable losing to a little-known sophomore from Washington.

Gould got the ABC-TV tape of the match and shows it almost in its entirety. In it, Gable looks exhausted and confused, the state in which he usually left his opponents.

The setbacks in Gable’s life served to strengthen his resolve.

After a neighbor stabbed his sister to death during an argument in 1964, Gable dedicated his life to wrestling and won three state championships at Waterloo West. After losing to Owings, Gable became a dominant wrestler on the international scene and did not give up a point in winning the 1972 Olympic gold medal as a lightweight (149 1/2 pounds) in the freestyle division.

When Iowa finished second at the 1987 NCAA meet after winning nine straight championships, Gable rededicated himself. In his last seven years as coach, the Hawkeyes won six national titles.

“That’s what he did every time,” Gould said. “When met with a challenge, he reaches down deep and comes back.”

Gable, 50, also coached the 1980 and 1984 Olympic freestyle teams, and in April returned to the team. He has coached five U.S. World teams, 10 World Cup teams and the 1986 Goodwill Games team.

Among the others who talk about Gable in the film are comedian Al Franken, author John Irving, artist LeRoy Neiman, and one of Gable’s main rivals in coaching, Oklahoma State’s John Smith.

“After being around Gable, you measure yourself to a degree,” Gould said. “You say to yourself, I am really working hard enough? Our hopes and our dreams, are we really going after them as hard as we can? Are you demanding as much of yourself as you can?

“That’s what Dan teaches,” Gould said. “It just happened that he was in wrestling.”