John Danaher addressed Gordon Ryan’s ongoing health issues, ranking him as the best talent he’s ever coached.
Asked directly who the best pound-for-pound grappler he’s trained is, across both men and women, Danaher didn’t hesitate:
It’s very clear that Gordon Ryan stands out.
What that young man did was incredible, and at least half of his career he was a very sick man.
His stomach is very very compromised, and the fact that he was able to maintain such an incredible level through that is truly amazing.
When host Georges St-Pierre asked whether Ryan could eventually return to full training, Danaher was cautious:
It would take something like a medical miracle at this point.
His stomach is very bad, and even just a few minutes of training has a very deleterious effect on him.
Even with that sobering assessment, Danaher’s praise for Ryan’s ability and work ethic remained clear, placing him among a small group of standout students that includes Garry Tonon, Eddie Cummings, Nicky Ryan, and rising competitor Helena Crevar.
Danaher also pointed to something beyond raw talent that separates elite performers like Ryan from everyone else, an internal standard that can’t be taught:
Probably the single most important thing you can bring into the room that can’t be coached is the set of standards that you bring in.
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