NCAA championship wrestler to speak in Clayton Hall

11:41 a.m., Nov. 26, 2012--Anthony Robles, the first athlete with a missing limb to win an NCAA championship, will speak at 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 29, in the auditorium of John M. Clayton Hall on the University of Delaware's Laird Campus.

The event is free and open to the public.

Events Stories

June 5: Blue Hen 5K

University of Delaware graduates planning to attend Alumni Weekend are encouraged to register for the annual Blue Hen 5K walk and run, which will be held Sunday morning, June 5.

June 6-9: Food and culture series

The 20th annual June Lecture Series at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UD in Wilmington will be held June 6-9. Titled 'June a la Carte,' this year's program focuses on great political documents, feminism, world politics and a Newark cuisine sampler.

• June 6-9: Food and culture series
• Through June 30: 'Saving White Clay Creek'
• July 22: WWE Heatwave Tour
• Through Sept. 16: Women of color in academia

Robles, who was born missing his right leg, began wrestling at the age of 14 in Mesa, Ariz. He finished his first year with a 5-8 record and was in last place at the Mesa City wrestling tournament. He went from being last in the city to finishing his junior and senior years at Mesa High School with a 96-0 record and being a two-time Arizona state champion and a high school national champion. 

"Not many people believed that a tiny kid born with one leg, the worst wrestler in the city, would ever excel in such a demanding sport," Robles said. "However, with the support of my family and my coaches, I believed I could one day be a champion wrestler; I believed that I could be unstoppable."

At Arizona State University, he joined the wrestling team and finished as a three-time All-American and the 2011 NCAA national champion. This year he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and awarded the Medal of Courage, given to a wrestler who has overcome insurmountable challenges. 

His book, Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion, was published earlier this year. 

The Nov. 29 event is sponsored by UD's Office of Equity and Inclusion, Greek Council, the  Interfraternity Council, the Office of Disability Support Services and the Disability Caucus.