Ellis Coleman facts for kids
Coleman in 2013
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | August 16, 1991 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 67 kg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  United States |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Greco-Roman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | U.S. Army WCAP New York Athletic Club |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | USA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ellis Coleman (born August 16, 1991) is an American wrestler from Chicago. He is famous for a special move called the "Flying Squirrel." This move involves him jumping over his opponent during a takedown.
In 2012, Ellis won the U.S. Olympic Trials. This allowed him to join the United States team at the 2012 Olympics in London. He competed in Greco-Roman style.
Early Life and Wrestling Start
Ellis Coleman grew up in Chicago, Illinois, with his mother, Yolanda Barral, and his siblings. Life was sometimes difficult for his family. To help him stay out of trouble, his stepfather introduced him to wrestling around 2001.
Wrestling quickly became a very important part of Ellis's life. His coach, Mike Powell, became a strong role model for him. Ellis went to Ella Flagg Young elementary school. He later graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park, Illinois in 2009. After high school, he studied at Northern Michigan University.
The "Flying Squirrel" Move
Ellis Coleman is widely known as the Flying Squirrel because of his amazing wrestling move. This move involves him doing a somersault over his opponent right before taking them down. It's a very exciting and unusual move to see in wrestling.
A video of Ellis performing the "Flying Squirrel" at the 2011 Junior World Championships became very popular on YouTube. This made him famous in the wrestling world and beyond. The move was even featured on SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays. Ellis has used this move many times in competitions. He says his brother helped him come up with the idea for the move.
Wrestling Achievements
Ellis Coleman has had a successful wrestling career. In 2009, during his senior year of high school, he finished third in the Illinois state wrestling championships. He had an impressive record of 49 wins and only 1 loss that season.
He has won the Greco-Roman US Open Championships five times: in 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. In 2013, he also won the Outstanding Wrestler Award at the US Open.
In 2012, Ellis won the U.S. Olympic Trials, which earned him a spot on the Olympic team. He was the youngest wrestler on the American team at the 2012 London Olympics. His coach and high school wrestling program helped his family travel to London to watch him compete. At the Olympics, Ellis competed in the 60 kg division. He lost his first match to Ivo Angelov from Bulgaria.
Ellis Coleman even bought a pet flying squirrel to keep as a reminder of his famous nickname! You can find him on Twitter using the handle @daFlyinSquirrel.
