Lindland looking for more Pan American Games gold in Canada
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by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
U.S. coaches Matt Lindland (right) and Momir Petkovic in the corner with Andy Bisek at the 2014 World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Larry Slater photo.
TORONTO, Canada – Matt Lindland understands the importance of performing at a high level at the Pan American Games.
In the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, Canada, Lindland stepped onto the mat for the 76 kilogram finals in Greco-Roman wrestling.
His opponent: reigning Olympic gold medalist Filiberto Ascuy of Cuba.
Lindland pulled off a huge victory by knocking off Ascuy to earn the Pan Am Games gold medal at 167.5 lbs.
Lindland followed that performance by winning an Olympic silver medal in 2000 and a World silver medal in 2001.
“I loved competing in the Pan Am Games – it’s an exciting and fun event,” Lindland said. “I was blessed enough to beat a two-time Olympic champion in the finals and win a gold medal. I think that convinced him to move down a weight class at the Olympic Games.
“It obviously was a great experience for me and that gave me a huge boost heading into the Olympics."
Now Lindland is back in Canada again as the U.S. National Coach for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto.
And he’s hoping a strong U.S. performance here gives his team momentum for September’s World Championships and into the Olympic year in 2016.
The U.S. is sending a strong and veteran six-member squad into the Greco competition, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
The U.S. is led by World bronze medalist Andy Bisek, two-time World fifth-place finisher Spenser Mango and World fifth-place finisher Robby Smith.
The American squad also includes three-time World Team member Caylor Williams, two-time World Team member Bryce Saddoris and U.S. National Team member Jon Anderson.
The U.S. Greco team was set earlier this year, with the finals of the World Team Trials held in early June.
“I think it helps a lot to have our team in place earlier,” Lindland said prior to his team’s workout Monday at the Mississauga Sports Centre. “We know who our guys are on the World Team and we’re able to have more time to focus on them. A lot of those guys are in our room in Colorado Springs so we get to work with them quite a bit. I’m excited to have more time to work with these guys.”
The Cubans won gold medals in 6 of 7 weight classes at the last Pan American Games in 2011. And Cuba is very strong again this year. The Cubans are led by two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time World champion Mijain Lopez at heavyweight. He is seeking his fourth Pan Am Games title.
“We just have to wrestle to the best of our ability,” Lindland said when asked about the challenge Cuba presents. “We just have to go out and perform, and have fun. We need to compete hard and enjoy this environment.”
The U.S. was shut out in the gold-medal department at the 2011 Pan Am Games in Greco. The six Olympic weight classes in Greco will compete here in Toronto.
“This year at the Pan Am Championships we had three champions,” Lindland said. “Unfortunately two of them were at weight classes we don’t have here at the Pan Ams, but Robby Smith was a champion and he’s wrestling here for us.
“Our team is performing at a high level and they’re getting ready to peak. Obviously, we want to peak for the World Championships, but we also want to have a great performance here and we’ve prepared our guys to do that. I’m very optimistic that our guys can win some medals and hopefully some gold ones.”
TORONTO, Canada – Matt Lindland understands the importance of performing at a high level at the Pan American Games.
In the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, Canada, Lindland stepped onto the mat for the 76 kilogram finals in Greco-Roman wrestling.
His opponent: reigning Olympic gold medalist Filiberto Ascuy of Cuba.
Lindland pulled off a huge victory by knocking off Ascuy to earn the Pan Am Games gold medal at 167.5 lbs.
Lindland followed that performance by winning an Olympic silver medal in 2000 and a World silver medal in 2001.
“I loved competing in the Pan Am Games – it’s an exciting and fun event,” Lindland said. “I was blessed enough to beat a two-time Olympic champion in the finals and win a gold medal. I think that convinced him to move down a weight class at the Olympic Games.
“It obviously was a great experience for me and that gave me a huge boost heading into the Olympics."
Now Lindland is back in Canada again as the U.S. National Coach for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto.
And he’s hoping a strong U.S. performance here gives his team momentum for September’s World Championships and into the Olympic year in 2016.
The U.S. is sending a strong and veteran six-member squad into the Greco competition, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
The U.S. is led by World bronze medalist Andy Bisek, two-time World fifth-place finisher Spenser Mango and World fifth-place finisher Robby Smith.
The American squad also includes three-time World Team member Caylor Williams, two-time World Team member Bryce Saddoris and U.S. National Team member Jon Anderson.
The U.S. Greco team was set earlier this year, with the finals of the World Team Trials held in early June.
“I think it helps a lot to have our team in place earlier,” Lindland said prior to his team’s workout Monday at the Mississauga Sports Centre. “We know who our guys are on the World Team and we’re able to have more time to focus on them. A lot of those guys are in our room in Colorado Springs so we get to work with them quite a bit. I’m excited to have more time to work with these guys.”
The Cubans won gold medals in 6 of 7 weight classes at the last Pan American Games in 2011. And Cuba is very strong again this year. The Cubans are led by two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time World champion Mijain Lopez at heavyweight. He is seeking his fourth Pan Am Games title.
“We just have to wrestle to the best of our ability,” Lindland said when asked about the challenge Cuba presents. “We just have to go out and perform, and have fun. We need to compete hard and enjoy this environment.”
The U.S. was shut out in the gold-medal department at the 2011 Pan Am Games in Greco. The six Olympic weight classes in Greco will compete here in Toronto.
“This year at the Pan Am Championships we had three champions,” Lindland said. “Unfortunately two of them were at weight classes we don’t have here at the Pan Ams, but Robby Smith was a champion and he’s wrestling here for us.
“Our team is performing at a high level and they’re getting ready to peak. Obviously, we want to peak for the World Championships, but we also want to have a great performance here and we’ve prepared our guys to do that. I’m very optimistic that our guys can win some medals and hopefully some gold ones.”
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