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As the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics approaches, excitement is building for the global showcase of athletic talent. Wrestling, one of the oldest Olympic sports, will once again take center stage.
Amid the anticipation, it's fitting to highlight the extraordinary contributions of Darryl Miller, a dedicated medical volunteer for USA Wrestling since 1993.
Miller's remarkable career spans over three decades, during which he has served in numerous prestigious roles.
He was the chief Athletic Trainer for USA Wrestling at the 1996 Olympics and head Athletic Trainer at the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics, as well as the 2007 Pan American Games.
His extensive experience includes working at eight World Championships, four U.S. Olympic Trials, and the U.S. Nationals from 1996 to 2005. Additionally, he contributed to 12 World Cups and several international tournaments, such as the 1993 Minsk Dual, the 1995 Cerro Pelado tournament, and the Krasnoyarsk tournament from 1996 to 1999.
Beyond his hands-on work at major competitions, Miller has been a key educator and advocate for athletic training. He has made numerous presentations on emergency procedures, skin lesions, and CPR/First Aid at USA Wrestling clinics.
His leadership extended to his role as director of the high school outreach program at the University of Colorado-Denver from 1988 to 1995, and as secondary education instructor of athletic training/emergency medicine and director of sports medicine for Denver Public Schools.
Miller also served as vice president of the Colorado Athletic Trainers' Association and held various leadership roles in professional organizations.
For 28 years, Miller organized the Denver Public Schools High School Thanksgiving Championship Wrestling Clinic, featuring NCAA champions and Olympic and World medalists as instructors. He spent 16 years as the head Athletic Trainer for the Colorado High School All-State Games and volunteered for Special Olympics and Lift America.
His exceptional service earned him the Colorado High School Activities Association Distinguished Service Award, Denver Public Schools Distinguished Teacher of the Year, and the Lloyd Gasgill Award from the Colorado High School Coaches Association. He is also a member of both the Denver Public Schools Athletic Hall of Fame and the Colorado Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame.
In recognition of his unparalleled commitment to athletic training, Miller received numerous accolades throughout his career. These include the University of Wisconsin Athletic Trainer of the Year in 1984, the HealthONE Community Partner Award in 2001, the National Athletic Trainers' Association Athletic Trainers Service Award in 2005, and the Lifetime Service Award from the Colorado Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2017.
Miller's academic credentials are equally impressive. He holds a bachelor's degree with a double major in physical education and industrial education from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and a Master's in exercise physiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He was also co-director of the exercise physiology lab and the high school outreach Athletic Trainer. His dedication to service is further exemplified by his tenure in the United States Marine Corps from 1971 to 1974, where he was a member of the Marine Corps Special Forces.
In 2024, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame honors Darryl Miller with the Order of Merit for his unprecedented volunteer efforts in state, national, and international venues as an Athletic Trainer, educator, and organizer.
Miller's legacy is a testament to his unwavering commitment to the field of athletic training and the sport of wrestling, inspiring future generations to strive for excellence and service.
