Born without a right leg, Anthony Robles was told he couldn't do it as a child, but that didn't stop him from achieving his ultimate sporting dream.
Despite all the success he had on the mat, he showed little interest because the best wrestling programs in the country focused on what he didn't have. The Arizona native drew significant interest from only Division II and Division III programs.
Robles took a gamble on himself and joined the Arizona State wrestling team, where he wrote one of the most notable sports stories in recent memory. He went 36-0 as a senior and won a national championship in the 125-pound weight class in 2011. .
The three-time Pac-10 champion's life story is the basis of the new film “Unstoppable,” produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's company and released this week on Prime Video. .
The film stars Jennifer Lopez as Robles' mother Judy, Don Cheadle as Arizona State University wrestling head coach Sean Charles, and Emmy Award winner Jharrel Jerome as Robles.
“I'm still shocked and honored,” said Robles, who is also a producer on the film. “The best part, it's an all-star cast, is that they cared so much about telling my story in an authentic way. It really meant a lot to me and my family and I couldn't be more proud.” There is no such thing.”
All of the wrestling scenes in the movie featured Division I wrestlers, and Robles was Jerome's shadow, giving Jerome the opportunity to return to the mat for the first time since winning the 2011 U.S. Championship.
“I was so excited and had something to train for again. I worked 100% seriously like I was competing. I lost about 10 pounds and felt better with my cardio and conditioning. ” Robles said. “It was a lot of fun creating the wrestling choreography with Jarrell. What you see is wrestling at 100% intensity. We go in there with all our might and make it violent. I called it a dance.
Cheadle, who has appeared in other sports films such as “Space Jam: The New Legacy'' and “Rebound: The Legend of Count Manigault,'' said he was struck by both sides of Robles.
“Anthony is amazing. He's one of the most humble and generous people you might meet,” Cheadle said. told Page Six.
“He was Jarrell's stuntman and body double for the movie, so he was on set every day. And you forget that Anthony has one leg. This very central, very generous, very You're not thinking about that when you're talking to this soft-spoken guy, and then you see him on the mat and you're like, It’s like, ‘Oh my God.’ The duality of who he is and the wholeness of who he is is so inspirational.”
Robles is an inspiration to many people, but her biggest inspiration is her mother, and one of the reasons why it's so incredible to see an actor like Lopez bring Judy to life on the big screen. He says it is.
“That was very special because everyone knows who Jennifer Lopez is. Jennifer was very particular about telling her mother's story in an authentic way and making sure to get all the little details right.” ,” Robles said. “She spent so much time with my mom getting to know her and her quirks and asking me about my mom. When I was on set, she saw someone walk by and thought it was my mom. “And it was Jennifer wearing my mom's wrestling gear.''
Unstoppable was directed by first-time director William Goldenberg, who is also an Oscar-winning film editor.
The high point and most emotional part of the film is the scene where Robles wins the national championship in front of a sold-out crowd.
“There were 20,000 people in that arena and it was very scary. I was very scared running down that carpet,” Robles said. “I remember getting off to the last stand on the last mat and my eyes darting all over the place. But what kept me calm was looking up into the crowd and seeing my mom, my brother, my high school. That's all I was focused on,” Coach said. That's what got me through that game. ”
Robles is now a high school wrestling coach for boys and girls in Arizona, and his 2-year-old son, Abel, is already showing off his father's skills on the mat after getting a throwing doll for Christmas. . He hopes the film about his amazing life will be an inspiration to everyone going through difficult times.
“I want people to think I’m unstoppable,” Robles said. “This quote applies to anyone if you have the courage to understand it. You are going to struggle with something in life. Or it can be spiritual. Are you focused on what you don't have, what you can't do? Or are you focused on your opportunities, your blessings, your strengths? It should be unstoppable.”
