Matt Ghaffari
Team: Greco-Roman
Weight Class: 286
Team USA Ranking: No. 1
Years on Team USA: 7 (1989-96)
Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Club: Sunkist Kids
College: Cleveland State Univ.
High School: Paramus, N.J.
Born: November 11, 1961 in Tehran, Iran
Height: 6' 4"
Career Highlights
International:
- 1996 Pan American Championships champion
- Third in 1996 Acropolis Grand Prix (Greece)
- 1996 Poland Open champion
- Fourth in Vehbi Emri Tournament (Turkey)
- Four-time World Cup champion (1991-91, 94-95)
- Second in 1995 Karelin Cup (Russia)
- Second in 1995 Polish Grand Prix
- Second in 1995 Acropolis Grand Prix (Greece)
- 1991 and 1995 Pan American Games champion
- 1995 Sweden Grand Prix champion
- Second in 1995 Poddubny Tournament (Russia)
- Sixth in 1990 and 1994 World Championships
- 1990 and 1994 Concord Cup champion
- 1992 and 1994 Pan American Championships titlist
- 1994 German Grand Prix champion
- 1994 Acropolis Grand Prix champion (Greece)
- 1992-94 Polish Grand Prix champion
- Third in 1993 World Cup
- 1993 Sunkist International Open champion in freestyle
- 1993 World Championships team member
- 1993 Peer Gynt Cup champion (Norway)
- Second in 1991 and 1993 Concord Cup
- Third in 1992 U.S. Olympic team member
- 1992 Malar Cup (Sweden)
- Second in 1992 Peer Gynt Cup (Norway)
- Second in 1991 World Championships
- Second in 1991 Vaanta Cup (Finland)
- Third in 1991 Trophe Milone Tournament (Italy)
- Fifth in 1991 Haparanda Cup (Sweden)
- 1990-91 Granma Cup champion (Cuba)
- Fourth in 1990 Poddubny Tournament (Soviet Union)
- 1989-90 Pan American Championships double titlist
U.S.
- Five-time U.S. Nationals champion (1990, 1992-94, 1996)
- 1990-91 and 1993-95 World Team Trials champion
- Third in 1991 U.S. Nationals
- 1992 Olympic Wrestle-off champion
- Second in 1989 U.S. Olympic Festival
- Second in 1989 U.S. Nationals
- Fourth in 1988 Olympic Team Trials in freestyle
- Fourth in 1984 and 1988 Final Olympic Qualifier in freestyle
College:
Competed for Dick Bonacci at Cleveland State Univ. from 1981-84
Attended Fairleigh Dickinson Univ. from 1979-80
Graduated from Cleveland State Univ. in 1984 with a degree in business
High School:
Competed for Bill Savage at Paramus High School in New Jersey
Personal:
U.S. Olympic Training Center Resident Athlete
Hobbies include mountain biking, golf and Olympic lifting
Has been ranked as high as No. 2 in freestyle
He and his wife, Amy, have a daughter, Nicole
Last named pronounced guh-FAR-ee
Awards:
USOC SportsMan of the Month (March, 1994; May, 1994 and October, 1994)
1990-92 and 1994 Championship Belt Series winner
1989 Grand Championship Ring Series winner
Holds the U.S. record for the most World Cup gold medals with four
Back to top
