Alexandria, VA. - Sgt. Iris Smith, who won the gold medal in the women’s 158.5-pound freestyle division of the 2005 World Wrestling Championships in Budapest Hungary, will receive an award for her accomplishments from the Sportswomen of Colorado on March 12 in Denver.

Stationed at Fort Carson, Colo., Smith is the only American to win a gold in the tournament and she became just the fourth U.S. woman wrestler to win a world crown, joining Tricia Saunders, Kristie Marano and Sandra Bacher.

To reach the championship match, Smith posted victories over Bulgaria’s Stanka Zlateva, Poland’s Angnieska Wieczczek and Germany’s Anita Schaetzle. The final match pitted Smith against five-time world champion Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan who she defeated 3-1, 1-1 and 1-0 which gave her the crown.

Smith has competed twice in the World Championships. The first was in 2000 when she placed seventh. She also made Team USA’s roster for the 2001 World Championships but missed the tourney to attend Army basic training.

Hailing from Albany, Ga., Smith qualified for the U.S. World Team by winning the World Team Trials in June at Ames, Iowa, where she defeated Ali Bernard of New Ulm, Minn., in the championship series.

Smith won her fourth national championship in April at Las Vegas, where she pinned Bernard in the second period of their bout. In May, Smith won a bronze medal in the 2005 World Cup at Clermont-Ferrand, France, where she lost only to Hamaguchi.

Founded in 1974 by the YWCA of Metropolitan Denver, Sportswomen of Colorado claims to be the first community-based organization in the nation to solely honor female athletes, celebrate their achievements, and recognize those who have improved sports for girls and women.