FUNK'S CORNER - A MESSAGE FROM KURT ANGLE, 1998

The below are the words of Kurt Angle, Olympic Gold Medalist. I had the privilege of being his professional wrestling coach in 1998 at the WWF training camp.

His comment after the first training session, "Hey, coach, this is a sport. It is hard work, and I love it."

Kurt Angle has signed an exclusive contract with TNA Wrestling. Thursday November 16th, TNA's iMPACT! moves to a new time at 9:00pm - prime time for TNA Wrestling and Kurt Angle. This Fall will be a BANGIN' good time at TNA Wrestling.

Dory Funk Jr.
Coach of the Funking Conservatory
www.dory-funk.com

September 30th, 1998: Don't Quit - A Message From Kurt Angle, 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist

I promised myself two things:

1. I'd train harder than ever in the two years leading up to the Olympics.
2. I wouldn't be afraid of failure or losing.

That was all that mattered to me. No more pressure. Just give my best!

I was, living my dream, wrestling for the Gold in the 1996 Olympic Games! The outcome of that final match still had to be addressed. I confidently ran out to wrestle for my place in history next to other Olympic greats.

It was intense, more intense than anything I had ever imagined. In the end, my hand was raised and victory was mine! I did it! And guess what? That's right, the emotional floodgates opened up and I cried!

I stood on the podium and received my Gold Medal, our country's national anthem providing the backdrop for my lifelong dream come true. I remember thinking that it was all worth it, that the hours of training, the sacrifices that I had made, in essence, everything I did to attain that moment would've been worth repeating all over again.

But guess what? Even if I hadn't won, it would've still been worth it. Because as I stood there proud, I looked at my family and saw in their eyes overwhelming love and sense of achievement for what I had accomplished, and said to myself, "They make life worth living." You see, with all due respect to former Green Bay Packers coaching great Vince Lombardi, winning isn't the only thing. It really isn't. It's whether you've given it your best shot. And not just during the match but in preparation for it, too. Did you train as hard as you could?

You'll find in life it's very much the same.

Don't worry about winning, just do your best and remember, don't quit! You, too, can have the time of your life! - Kurt Angle