UPDATED: FILA adds U.S. wrestler Mike Zadick to the Olympic Games field at 60 kg in men's freestyle wrestling
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by USA Wrestling
BEIJING, China - USA Wrestling, the national governing body for wrestling in the United States, has been notified by the international wrestling federation FILA that U.S. wrestler Mike Zadick (Solon, Iowa/Gator WC) has been added to the field at 60 kg (132 lbs.) in men's freestyle wrestling at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
The United States had not qualified to participate in the Olympic Games at 60 kg during the qualification process prior to the Beijing Olympics.
USA Wrestling made a formal request to FILA to add Zadick to the Olympic Games field at 60 kg when it was learned that the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation withdrew its entry from the Olympics at that weight division due to injury.
The FILA Bureau, the governing council for international wrestling, met on Sunday to discuss the request and came to its decision at that time.
Zadick was a 2006 World silver medalist and member of the 2007 U.S. World Team. He won the 60 kg division at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in June to earn the No. 1 spot on Team USA in his weight class.
"It was determined that Mike Zadick was an Olympic eligible athlete, who has been in serious training if this opportunity became available," said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. "We are excited for him and have confidence in his ability to perform well at the Olympic Games."
Zadick will weigh in on Monday, August 18 and will compete on Tuesday, August 19.
"It's been a lifelong dream of mine to wrestle in the Olympic Games," Zadick said. "I never stopped believing it would happen. I want to thank USA Wrestling and (USA Wrestling Executive Director) Rich Bender for making this happen. I'm looking forward to having an opportunity to wrestle in the Olympics and bringing home a gold medal.
The United States had not qualified to participate in the Olympic Games at 60 kg during the qualification process prior to the Beijing Olympics.
USA Wrestling made a formal request to FILA to add Zadick to the Olympic Games field at 60 kg when it was learned that the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation withdrew its entry from the Olympics at that weight division due to injury.
The FILA Bureau, the governing council for international wrestling, met on Sunday to discuss the request and came to its decision at that time.
Zadick was a 2006 World silver medalist and member of the 2007 U.S. World Team. He won the 60 kg division at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in June to earn the No. 1 spot on Team USA in his weight class.
"It was determined that Mike Zadick was an Olympic eligible athlete, who has been in serious training if this opportunity became available," said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. "We are excited for him and have confidence in his ability to perform well at the Olympic Games."
Zadick will weigh in on Monday, August 18 and will compete on Tuesday, August 19.
"It's been a lifelong dream of mine to wrestle in the Olympic Games," Zadick said. "I never stopped believing it would happen. I want to thank USA Wrestling and (USA Wrestling Executive Director) Rich Bender for making this happen. I'm looking forward to having an opportunity to wrestle in the Olympics and bringing home a gold medal.
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