Each year the National Wrestling Hall of Fame creates videos highlighting the career of honorees being inducted. Here is the video for Michael K. Martinez, who was inducted as our Medal of Courage recipient in 2018. The Medal of Courage recipient is a wrestler or former wrestler who has overcome what appear to be insurmountable challenges, providing inspiration to others. Michael was a two-time Colorado State champion for Pagosa Springs High School and a three-time conference and four-time NCAA Wrestling qualifier for Wyoming Cowboys. He wrestled in the 2012 Olympic Trials, losing to eventual Olympic team member Sam Hazewinkel. On April 2, 2013, while working on his family’s 236-acre ranch, located outside Pagosa Springs, Martinez chose to stay in a motor home on the property, eliminating a 40-minute drive and giving him an opportunity to begin work early the next day. During the night as he lit a match, the propane stove burst into a fireball that covered his body. With second- and third-degree burns covering more than 80 percent of Martinez’s body, the EMTs summoned a medical helicopter to fly him 45 minutes to the University of New Mexico Hospital burn unit in Albuquerque. He was expected to be hospitalized for up to three months, but he surprised medical professionals when he returned home after just 21 days. Once given clearance, he began light exercise and resumed running. He was invited to help coach the wrestling team at Pagosa Springs, and he soon was working on the mat and holding open mat workouts at 6 a.m., attended by most of the wrestlers. In the spring of 2014, Pagosa Springs had its first individual state champion since 2009. Michael is a real-life profile in courage, using the same tenacity and dedication he displayed on the wrestling mat to overcome physical and mental obstacles, and an inspiration to us all. Honoree videos are created by Dave "Doc" Bennett, who we honored with our Order of Merit award in 2015.