Greco-Roman wrestling.    It is known as the world's oldest sport. Maybe that is why so many of Greco-Roman's greatest wrestlers turn out for Olympic training camps.    
Greco-Roman wrestlers take a break during practice
The U.S. Greco-Roman Olympic Team finished its fourth day of its first Olympic Training Camp on Thursday evening, but it was officially the first day when Dennis Hall showed up for his first workout at 9:30 a.m.    Hall, one of three Olympic medalists out of the six members of this year's squad (Brad Vering and Oscar Wood have not yet been to the Olympic Games), may be the most vocal of the group.    In 1996, Hall won an Olympic silver medal. He had not seen an Olympic mat since, when Jim Gruenwald, another 2004 Olympian, finally beat his rival at the 2000 Olympic Trials.    This year, they train to win together - not to beat each other.    "This is the greatest feeling in the world," Hall said before his second practice of the day. "Being back on the Olympic Team is great. I had to beat one of my close friends to get here, but it has definitely been worth the wait."    Hall will now be remembered for his 16-minute marathon match with Brandon Paulson at the Olympic Trials.    As a 90-minute grind match nears at the first practice on Friday morning, Hall noted that he has already been through that.    "When me and Brandon went to that second overtime, I mentally prepared myself to wrestle for an hour," Hall added. "I think I am going to tell Fraser that I have already had my grind match."    Gruenwald is battling other demons.    In the semifinals of last year's World Championships, he dislocated his shoulder against eventual World champion Armen Nazarian. He did not compete again until the U.S. Nationals.    "Two months before Nationals, I didn't think there was any way I could ever wrestle again. Now, I feel great, maybe as good as I have ever felt," Gruenwald said.    Many other past Olympians were in the wrestling room on Thursday.    1984 Olympic gold medalist Steve Fraser, also the USA Wrestling National Greco-Roman coach. 1976 Olympic gold medalist Momir Petkovic, originally from Yoguslovia, is the USA Wrestling National Assistant Coach. Don't forget about Shawn Sheldon, Andy Seras and Dan Chandler.    
Vering and Lindland square off
Making an appearance for the week was 2000 Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland, who has served as a mentor to Vering since the Nebraska native was in high school.    On this day, many media not yet familiar with Vering noted that "this guy is pretty good, isn't he?"    And oh yeah, current Olympians Rulon Gardner, gold in 2000, and Garrett Lowney, bronze in 2000.    "It's pretty cool to have all these guys in the room together," Gardner stated after practice. "There is a lot of history in here right now, and all that history is a big reason that we have enjoyed the success we have had over the last few years."    That success garnered three Olympic medals in 2000, a World title in 2001 and another in 2002. There can be no doubt that the success is attributed to the training camps.    This training camp is set to run through June 16. It is to help this team prepare for the Titan Games in Atlanta, Ga. next week.