Imagine opening your mailbox and there is something from Dan Gable’s mom waiting for you. Inside the envelope is a get-well-soon note signed by Katie Gable. 

“I don’t know all the people she sent them to,” Gable said, “but I know that she sent them.”

The most memorable followed a disappointing loss at the 1970 NCAA Championship finals. Gable was undefeated during high school and college and was about to finish his career spotless. Instead, he lost his final sanctioned college match for Iowa State.

Washington sophomore Larry Owings defeated Gable, 13-11, in the 142-pound finals in college wrestling's biggest upset. Local papers had a field day with the loss, but the most pointed was the headline in the Des Moines Register: Gable Fails!

“I didn’t win,” Gable said. “That’s just the way it is. That didn’t sit well with people who read the paper at that time but it turned out to be the greatest match of my life as far as affecting me and future performances. 

“When I got home there was the newspaper headline of 'Gable Fails' and people wrote in and sent editorials. One of the write-ins was someone who said I’m overrated and that I would never win another big match in my life.”

The man’s name and hometown accompanied the editorial so Katie Gable went to work. She found his address and sent him a card. 

“I didn’t pay any attention to it but my mom took it personally,” Gable said. “She sent him a card that said ‘Sorry to hear you’re sick. Hope you get well soon.’"

Guess who turned out to be right? Dan Gable’s mom.

Gable won the 1971 World Championships and didn’t surrender a point at the 1972 Olympics during his gold medal run. He eventually led the University of Iowa to 15 NCAA Championships in 21 seasons (1977-97). 

“My mom stood up for what she believed in and she believed in her son," Gable said. "She wasn’t going to let the last word get out when it was a bad word."