From Underdog to Undefeated

A tribute video of 2011 NCAA wrestling champion Anthony Robles.

Anthony Robles (born July 20, 1988) is a wrestler who won the 2010-11 NCAA individual wrestling championship in the 125-pound weight class despite being born with only one leg. He is the author of the book Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion (Gotham Books), which went on-sale September 27, 2012.

Robles was born with one leg for unknown reasons, but refused to wear a prosthetic leg, removing it at the age of 3. Due to his leg's being missing all the way up to the hip, he has no stump to attach a prosthetic limb to. He endeavored to work around his missing leg, strengthening his body with various exercises. When Robles was in the sixth grade, he set a record for the most pushups by a member of his school. He began wrestling in the eighth grade, joining in while watching one of his older cousins practice. As a freshman in high school Robles had a record of 5-8 and ranked last in the city of Mesa, Arizona, disadvantaged by being 10 pounds underweight for his weight class. Robles benefited, however, from tremendous grip strength from his use of crutches. After intensive training Robles found that he could use his unusually low center of gravity to defend against attack, and became skilled at several offensive moves including one he created. In his sophomore year Robles was ranked sixth in Arizona, and won two state wrestling championships going 96-0 in his junior and senior years combined at Mesa High School. Robles won a national championship as a senior, finishing his high school wrestling career with a record of 129-15.

Anthony Robles, three-time all-American wrestler and winner of the 2010-2011 NCAA wrestling championship. Robles was also awarded the Jimmy V Perseverance award at the 2011 ESPYs and was inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012.