U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling team arrives in Beijing, itching to get on the mats
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by Gary Abbott
BEIJING, CHINA - The final U.S. Olympic wrestling team touched down at the Beijing Capital Airport ready to get to work, the men's freestyle squad. After a long flight from San Francisco, the athletes are upbeat and ready to complete their preparation to compete at the Olympic Games.
"Everybody is excited to be here," said National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson as the team waited for their bus to the Olympic Village. "They are starting to feel their Olympic moments have arrived."
The freestyle Olympians will join their wrestling teammates from Greco-Roman and women's freestyle in the Olympic Village. Like the other wrestling squads, the group will complete its training at the Beijing Normal University. The men's freestyle wrestlers will compete on August 19-21 at the China Agricultural University Gymnasium.
Daniel Cormier (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) is the only member of the team to have competed in a previous Olympics when he took fourth at the 2004 Athens Games at 96 kg/211.5 pounds.
"I am excited. I get a chance to right the wrong. This is the fun part, when you first get here. Now we have two weeks to prepare to win medals," said Cormier.
The rest of the team will be competing at the Olympics for the first time, and all are looking forward to making their mark in Beijing.
"It was an easy flight," said Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC), who wrestles at 84 kg/185 lbs. "I am anxious to get on the mat today. We weren't able to wrestle while we were in San Jose (at Olympic processing). I am ready to get after it."
"Training has been real good," said Doug Schwab (Iowa City, Iowa/Gator WC), who wrestles at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. "I look forward to 13 days to put the edge on. I am looking to turn it up a knotch the next few weeks."
Henry Cejudo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), the youngest team member and an Olympian at 55 kg/121 lbs., got caught up in the Olympic atmosphere when he walked out of the baggage claim and saw the crowds of media and fans waiting in the airport lobby.
"It was good seeing all these people waiting for us at the airport," said Cejudo.
The first step for the wrestlers will be to get their rooms at the Olympic Village, pick up their luggage and get acclimated to the time zone change and weather conditions.
"I want to get situated," said Ben Askren (Columbia, Mo./Sunkist Kids), the exciting young star at 74 kg/163 lbs. "I want to get to the village and get settled."
Heavyweight Steve Mocco (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York) was the other Olympian arriving on Thursday, ready to get back into the final stages of the training program.
The freestylers were planning a workout right away on the day of their arrival, and perhaps another before participating in Friday's Opening Ceremonies.
"This team is ready," said Olympic coach Lee Kemp. "They are itching to get on the mat and work out. All of them are ready. They have demonstrated that they can step up and wrestle great matches. Everybody on this team has something to prove. If this team wrestles to it capabilities, we can win a lot of medals. It could be a great performance."
"Everybody is excited to be here," said National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson as the team waited for their bus to the Olympic Village. "They are starting to feel their Olympic moments have arrived."
The freestyle Olympians will join their wrestling teammates from Greco-Roman and women's freestyle in the Olympic Village. Like the other wrestling squads, the group will complete its training at the Beijing Normal University. The men's freestyle wrestlers will compete on August 19-21 at the China Agricultural University Gymnasium.
Daniel Cormier (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) is the only member of the team to have competed in a previous Olympics when he took fourth at the 2004 Athens Games at 96 kg/211.5 pounds.
"I am excited. I get a chance to right the wrong. This is the fun part, when you first get here. Now we have two weeks to prepare to win medals," said Cormier.
The rest of the team will be competing at the Olympics for the first time, and all are looking forward to making their mark in Beijing.
"It was an easy flight," said Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC), who wrestles at 84 kg/185 lbs. "I am anxious to get on the mat today. We weren't able to wrestle while we were in San Jose (at Olympic processing). I am ready to get after it."
"Training has been real good," said Doug Schwab (Iowa City, Iowa/Gator WC), who wrestles at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. "I look forward to 13 days to put the edge on. I am looking to turn it up a knotch the next few weeks."
Henry Cejudo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), the youngest team member and an Olympian at 55 kg/121 lbs., got caught up in the Olympic atmosphere when he walked out of the baggage claim and saw the crowds of media and fans waiting in the airport lobby.
"It was good seeing all these people waiting for us at the airport," said Cejudo.
The first step for the wrestlers will be to get their rooms at the Olympic Village, pick up their luggage and get acclimated to the time zone change and weather conditions.
"I want to get situated," said Ben Askren (Columbia, Mo./Sunkist Kids), the exciting young star at 74 kg/163 lbs. "I want to get to the village and get settled."
Heavyweight Steve Mocco (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York) was the other Olympian arriving on Thursday, ready to get back into the final stages of the training program.
The freestylers were planning a workout right away on the day of their arrival, and perhaps another before participating in Friday's Opening Ceremonies.
"This team is ready," said Olympic coach Lee Kemp. "They are itching to get on the mat and work out. All of them are ready. They have demonstrated that they can step up and wrestle great matches. Everybody on this team has something to prove. If this team wrestles to it capabilities, we can win a lot of medals. It could be a great performance."
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