Flash quotes from the U.S. Olympic freestyle team press conference on August 9
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by UL
National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson
Q. What are your expectations and how well has the training has gone?
"Are expectations are high as they always are in the Olympic Games. Our training has gone great. Our guys have done everything we've asked of them. We're looking forward to our competition. We have a few more days to get ready to go to war."
Q. What is the character of the American wrestler that enables them to do well in the Olympic Games?
"We put the Olympic Games on a higher pedestal than the World Championship and the Pan American Games. We all grow up wanting to be an Olympic champion. It's a show of their will."
Q. How does this team get along?
"It has taken us a little while to bond as a team, but I think being at the Opening Ceremonies solidified our team unity. I like the mix of this team."
74 kg - Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis.)
Q. What have been the factors in your successful transfer from college wrestling to international competition?
"Setting high goals for myself. I knew I was going to be on the team in 2008 and there was no changing my mind. I had to fix a few parts of my game and once I did that no other American could beat me."
Q. Describe your style of wrestling?
"I have a style of my own. I'm very aggressive. I like to put a lot of points on the board. I like to put on a show."
Q. What about the photo opportunity with President Bush
"I had my camera and I thought my mom would like to see a picture of me with President Bush. There was this lady standing there and I asked if she could take our picture. I didn't know she was President Bush's daughter (Barbara). She said she'd take a good picture. It was a good picture."
Q. Have you decided on a hairstyle for Aug. 20?
"It's still up in the air."
55 kg - Henry Cejudo (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Q. How has the move to the Olympic Training Center as a high school junior helped you?
"I wanted to make my dream a reality. A move to the training center was the best to make my dream a reality. I'm here now and it's cool to me."
Q. How has this season helped you build on your experience?
"I'm learning patience. I tend to get a little racy. I'm learning how to wrestle at the world class level."
96 kg - Daniel Cormier (Lafayette, La.)
Q. What have you done to change the disappointment of the 2004 Olympics, where you placed fourth.
"I had a lot of ups and downs right after the 2004 Olympic Games. I wasn't as motivated as I should have been. But in the last 18 months I think I've been motivated as much as any time in life. I'm not going to give away matches anymore. I don't think anybody can beat me if I don't beat myself. I'm not going to beat myself."
Q. What are your thoughts of being elected captain?
"Any time when you get chosen by your teammates means more than if somebody from the outside did it. I'll try to give them little pointers here and there from the experiences I've had on the last six world teams."
84 kg - Andy Hrovat (Cleveland, Ohio)
Q. Will your recent success in the Olympic Trials help you in the Olympic Games?
"I had a lot of confidence before, but it solidified it. It gives me a lot of momentum going into the Olympics."
Q. What's your focus when competing?
"I need to force my opponents to open up. Once I get them to open up, I can get into counter attacks. In the training camps, I've learned to create a little action of my own."
Q. How does this team get along?
"We like to have a lot of fun. I think the most fun was yesterday when Ben Askren asked the president's daughter to take his picture. He didn't recognize her."
120 kg - Steven Mocco (North Bergen, N.J.)
Q. What is the difference in your wrestling this year?
"I made a lot of changes. I moved to the Olympic Training Center. That was the extra edge for me."
Q. What are you trying to achieve when you're wrestling?
"Score a lot and as often that I can. I want to keep the pressure on them and the scoreboard."
66 kg - Doug Schwab (Osage, Iowa)
Q. Does your Iowa background help you now?
"I grew up wanting to wrestle the Iowa style. I transferred that over to my college career and to international competition."
Q. In what aspects of your wrestling have you improved from last year?
"I know I'm head and shoulders above where I was at this time last year. Beating a world champion to make the team shows me I'm as good as almost anyone in the world."
Q. How has the support of your wife helped you?
"It's a tough sport and you're pretty selfish when you're competing. I can't really describe what it means to have that kind of support.
Q. What are your expectations and how well has the training has gone?
"Are expectations are high as they always are in the Olympic Games. Our training has gone great. Our guys have done everything we've asked of them. We're looking forward to our competition. We have a few more days to get ready to go to war."
Q. What is the character of the American wrestler that enables them to do well in the Olympic Games?
"We put the Olympic Games on a higher pedestal than the World Championship and the Pan American Games. We all grow up wanting to be an Olympic champion. It's a show of their will."
Q. How does this team get along?
"It has taken us a little while to bond as a team, but I think being at the Opening Ceremonies solidified our team unity. I like the mix of this team."
74 kg - Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis.)
Q. What have been the factors in your successful transfer from college wrestling to international competition?
"Setting high goals for myself. I knew I was going to be on the team in 2008 and there was no changing my mind. I had to fix a few parts of my game and once I did that no other American could beat me."
Q. Describe your style of wrestling?
"I have a style of my own. I'm very aggressive. I like to put a lot of points on the board. I like to put on a show."
Q. What about the photo opportunity with President Bush
"I had my camera and I thought my mom would like to see a picture of me with President Bush. There was this lady standing there and I asked if she could take our picture. I didn't know she was President Bush's daughter (Barbara). She said she'd take a good picture. It was a good picture."
Q. Have you decided on a hairstyle for Aug. 20?
"It's still up in the air."
55 kg - Henry Cejudo (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Q. How has the move to the Olympic Training Center as a high school junior helped you?
"I wanted to make my dream a reality. A move to the training center was the best to make my dream a reality. I'm here now and it's cool to me."
Q. How has this season helped you build on your experience?
"I'm learning patience. I tend to get a little racy. I'm learning how to wrestle at the world class level."
96 kg - Daniel Cormier (Lafayette, La.)
Q. What have you done to change the disappointment of the 2004 Olympics, where you placed fourth.
"I had a lot of ups and downs right after the 2004 Olympic Games. I wasn't as motivated as I should have been. But in the last 18 months I think I've been motivated as much as any time in life. I'm not going to give away matches anymore. I don't think anybody can beat me if I don't beat myself. I'm not going to beat myself."
Q. What are your thoughts of being elected captain?
"Any time when you get chosen by your teammates means more than if somebody from the outside did it. I'll try to give them little pointers here and there from the experiences I've had on the last six world teams."
84 kg - Andy Hrovat (Cleveland, Ohio)
Q. Will your recent success in the Olympic Trials help you in the Olympic Games?
"I had a lot of confidence before, but it solidified it. It gives me a lot of momentum going into the Olympics."
Q. What's your focus when competing?
"I need to force my opponents to open up. Once I get them to open up, I can get into counter attacks. In the training camps, I've learned to create a little action of my own."
Q. How does this team get along?
"We like to have a lot of fun. I think the most fun was yesterday when Ben Askren asked the president's daughter to take his picture. He didn't recognize her."
120 kg - Steven Mocco (North Bergen, N.J.)
Q. What is the difference in your wrestling this year?
"I made a lot of changes. I moved to the Olympic Training Center. That was the extra edge for me."
Q. What are you trying to achieve when you're wrestling?
"Score a lot and as often that I can. I want to keep the pressure on them and the scoreboard."
66 kg - Doug Schwab (Osage, Iowa)
Q. Does your Iowa background help you now?
"I grew up wanting to wrestle the Iowa style. I transferred that over to my college career and to international competition."
Q. In what aspects of your wrestling have you improved from last year?
"I know I'm head and shoulders above where I was at this time last year. Beating a world champion to make the team shows me I'm as good as almost anyone in the world."
Q. How has the support of your wife helped you?
"It's a tough sport and you're pretty selfish when you're competing. I can't really describe what it means to have that kind of support.
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