Even though he has been retired from wrestling for several years, Anthony Robles was excited to get back on the mat for “Unstoppable,” a film about his life.
“Once you hit that point of retirement, you just dream of having one more moment,” Robles says. “That’s just training for something … creating this choreography. We called it a ‘violent dance.’ So, to have a new perspective and to creative something beautiful, intense and ferocious was just incredible for me.”
Robles’ story – a remarkable one at that – covers his high school and college career as a wrestler. What makes it unique is his struggle. Robles was born without a leg but had no stump to attach a prosthetic to. By strengthening other parts of his body, he was able to compensate and become a state and national champion.
Anthony Robles, second from right, served as an adviser and double for Jharrel Jerome, right, in the film based on his life, "Unstoppable."
In the film, Jharrel Jerome plays Robles. In key moments, Robles serves as his stunt double. While he was able to relive moments while writing the book, “Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion,” Robles didn’t really get to appreciate the journey until he saw the film.
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“It still doesn’t feel like a reality to me right now,” he says. “To have people reaching out just saying how much it inspired them, how it touches them – that was my ultimate goal. I reached my goal but now it’s about reaching others’, inspiring them to overcome challenges in their lives.”
An impossible dream
Growing up in ֱ, Robles set out to make wrestling his calling card – even though others questioned if he could do it. “I had those dreams and aspirations to be the best,” he says. “One thing I learned about wrestling was it’s a humbling sport. My first year of competition I was nowhere near the top of the podium. But that gave me the motivation to train for it because I wanted to not only prove myself right, but I wanted to prove all those other people wrong who doubted me.”
One who was always in his corner was his mother, Judy Robles.
“She’s my role model,” he says. “In a lot of ways, she was both my mom and my dad, and she had to bear a heavy load on her own. Growing up, I realized how much she loved us and how hard she worked for us. Now, as a dad, I’m just absolutely blown away about how she raised us and how she inspired us and what she overcame.”
In addition to raising Robles and his siblings, Judy continued her education and now works as the associate director of student/athlete experience and family programs at ֱ State University.
She’s played in the film by Jennifer Lopez.
“She didn’t get to pick who played her,” Robles says, “but I got to break the news to her.” Initially mom didn’t believe him. “It took me 10 minutes to get her to understand it wasn’t a joke.”
Jharrel Jerome plays Anthony Robles in "Unstoppable."
Searching for a star
When producers were searching for someone to play Anthony, he was hoping they’d find someone who had a love for his family and a vulnerability.
“Jharrel was perfect in capturing that. We met back in 2019, but it was him just taking the time to observe me in my real-life environment, hanging out with friends. He was just watching and soaking it all in.” On film, “he delivered above and beyond.”
Those wrestling scenes required a bit more hands-on experience. Robles and his former assistant wrestling coach, Brian Smith, demonstrated his techniques.
“He dialed it in and every single day he came back for more,” Robles says of Jerome. “Even when you’re training, you’re still getting slammed, and your body is feeling the impact and intensity of it. He was focused on getting everything right about my life, whether it’s on the crutches, whether it’s me emotionally or just the wrestling itself.”
When he started in the sport, Robles couldn’t find stories about other wrestlers who were missing limbs. Now, thanks to social media, he has heard from many of them and been able to share techniques.
“I had to create a whole new style of wrestling with the help of my coaches,” he says. “To be able to do that now and help with the next generation of wrestlers with similar challenges is very special.”
In addition to working as a motivational speaker, Robles has a broadcasting career and a hand still in the sport.
Jharrel Jerome, right, plays Anthony Robles in "Unstoppable," a film about the wrestler's life.
Iowa goals
As a child, he pictured himself standing atop the podium and achieved it twice in high school, once in college.
His goal was always to go to the University of Iowa where the “best of the best” wrestled. When he didn’t get in the program, he went to ֱ State and found himself on the mat at nationals, wrestling someone from Iowa for the title.
“That was interesting how it came full circle. In a lot of ways, it was very intimidating for me to wrestle my heroes, you know. It was my final match, and I was scared. I remember looking at my mom and my siblings and that fear just drained away from me … I remember thinking, ‘I got this. There’s no way he’s going to beat me tonight. I can do this.’”
And, spoiler alert, he did.
While training for the Olympics, Robles tore his Achilles tendon and had to shift his focus.
“I received a stack of letters from some kids, and it inspired me to become a motivational speaker. During that time of healing, I focused 100 percent on my speaking career and fell in love with it. That’s all I wanted to do.”
An “Unstoppable 2,” perhaps? “Absolutely,” Robles says with a smile. “I’m always trying to be better than I was yesterday – whether that’s as a husband, a dad or a high school wrestling coach.”
"Unstoppable" airs on Prime Video beginning Jan. 16.
