| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joseph Marion Corso | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | American | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | December 22, 1951 Turin, Italy | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Home town | West Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 126 lb (57 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Event | Freestyle | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Joseph Marion "Joe" Corso (born December 22, 1951) is an American wrestler and coach. He competed in the men's freestyle 57 kg at the 1976 Summer Olympics,[1] and was USA Women's Wrestling's first coach.
Born in Turin, Italy, December 22, 1951, Joe was raised by the Nuns of Turin Catholic Charities before being adopted at the age of 5 by Joe and Hazel Corso, owners of an Italian restaurant in West Des Moines, Iowa. At the time of his arrival in the United States he spoke only Italian.[citation needed]
Being of small physical stature, his athletic opportunities were limited, however under the tutelage of Coach Larry Bock he placed 2nd in the Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament[2] in 1970 and became the #112 State Champion for Valley West Des Moines’ in 1971, its first State Champion since 1936.
What followed was a steady climb which saw Joe excel at the Collegiate, National and International level. During his active years, Joe won 6 National Freestyle Wrestling Championships and numerous international titles while also pursuing a career in coaching. He also was a member of the 1976 Freestyle Olympic Wrestling Team.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Wrestling Bantamweight, Freestyle | Montreal, Canada | 8, 0 | 57 kg |
| 1980 | Moscow, Russia | Boycotted, 57 kg | ||
| 1984 | Los Angeles, CA. USA | 2nd Alternate, 57 kg |
Joe Corso represented the United States in men's freestyle wrestling at the 1976 Summer Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada, competing in the 57 kg weight category.
In the lead-up to the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, Joe was designated as the 57 kg reserve for the United States wrestling team. Unfortunately, an injury prevented him from participating in the Games, which were subsequently boycotted by the United States.
Joe's wrestling journey continued as he held the position of 2nd alternate at 57 kg for the 1984 Olympic team representing the United States in Los Angeles.
He played a role in fostering the growth of women's wrestling.[citation needed]
In 2019, Joseph Marion "Joe" Corso was honored for his contributions to the sport of wrestling with his induction into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame.[3]
