The dominant power in Greco-Roman wrestling has been Russia,since the breakup of the Soviet Union dynasty. But, Russia is not a lock for the team title each year, which differs from the old Soviet days. Georgia won the World team title in 2003 and Cuba won the World team title in 2001.  Poland had the best Greco-Romanteam performance at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, a shocking performance that showed that Russia may not be as invincible as many believed.    In Greco-Roman, it has been harder and harder to break away from the pack. In addition to new nations winningteam titles,  there has been more parity and balance than ever before. There is great change within the top 15 teams every year at the World meet. Because some many teams have strong programs, winning medals becomes more difficult. In addition, only a fewsuccessful athletes can help a  nation climb into the upper ranks of the sport    At the 2000 Olympics, Russia won the medal count with four, including two champions. Cuba and the United States were second with three (with Cuba taking the No. 2 spot due to more silver medalists). Those were also the top three teams in the unofficial team standings, with Ukraine, Korea, Georgia, Belarus and Sweden all having good showings. With more balance and only seven weight classes this time around, it may be even more difficult for any nation to collect very many medals.    Based upon past performance and tradition, and as the only team to qualify at all seven weight classes in Greco-Roman, you have to start with Russia. After that, the possibilities are endless. Greece has all seven in the field as the host nation, but is a longshot to be a major factor in the tournament. Eight nations have six competitors, and four nations have five competitors. Some teams will three or less might also do well because of strong individuals. Let the battle begin…    Russia    Russian wrestlers know how to win gold medals. Although the team was second last year, it was on the strength of two World champions and a sixth place finisher. At the 2000 Olympics, Russia was the only nation with two Greco-Roman champions. You can expect Russia to bring home some gold again in Athens.Russia could have a lineup with as many as five weights covered by a past World or Olympic champion.    The 2003 World champions for Russia were Alexei Glushkov at 74 kg and Khassan Baroev at 120 kg. Because of Russia's tremendous depth, it is possible that neither might be on the Olympic Team in Athens. Also at 74 kg is 2000 Olympic champion and 2002 World champion Varteres Samourgashev. Russia has another talent at 120 kg in Yuri Patrikeev, and Baroev reportedly has has some injury problems. These two weights are well stocked and will be top medal hopes.    The other Russian to place last year at the Worlds was Alexander Bezrutchin at 96 kg, who was sixth. Bezroutchin was a World champion in 2001. His spot on the team is in question, as five-time World champion Gogi Koguachvili is reportedly a possible entry. Koguachvili was upset by American Garrett Lowney in his pool in 2000, and he has yet to win an Olympic medal.     Other past World champions in the Russian stable include Guidar Mamadaliev at 55 kg and Alexander Menshikov at 84 kg. Mamadaliev is expected to be in Athens, but the 84 kg spot might go to Alexei Michine, a past World silver medalist. Maxim Semenov, who was fourth in the 2002 World meet, may be the choice at 66 kg and Alexei Shevtsov looks like the man at 60 kg. Overall, this is a strong team with experience, a group that has earned the title of favorite going into the Games.    Tentative Russian lineup  55 kg - Guidar Mamadaliev or Renat Bikkinin  60 kg - Alexei Shevtsov or Rustem Mambetov  66 kg - Maksim Semenov, Ambako Bagadze or Sergei Kuntarov  74 kg - Varteres Samourgashev or Alexei Glushkov  84 kg - Alexei Michine or Alexander Menshikov  96 kg- Gogi Koguachvil or Alexander Bezrutchkin  120 kg -Khassan Baroev or Yuri Patrikeev    Georgia    When it was all over at the 2003 World meet, everybody asked how Georgia won the team title. It was not expected. The team had two medalists, with champion Manuchar Kvirkelia at 66 kg and bronze medalistRamaz Nozadze at 96 kg. Two other wrestlers placed in the top 10 with Akaki Chachua placing fifth at 60 kg and Muhran Vakhatangadze placing sixth at 84 kg. In the new world of Greco-Roman parity, this was enough points to take the team title.    On paper, Georgia can do even better than this. Vakhatangadze was a World Champion in 2001. Akaki Chachua was an Olympic silver medalist in 2001. If Georgia can get a strong performance from Irakli Chachua at 55 kg or Miran Girogadze at 120 kg, the overall team effort could be very good. The question on everybody's mind is whether Georgia can have this kind of performance two years in a row.    Tentative Georgian lineup  55 kg - Iraki Chachua  60 kg - Akaki Chachua  66 kg - Manuchar Kvirkelia  74 kg - not qualified  84 kg - Murhban Vakhtangadze  96 kg- Ramaz  Nozadze  120 kg -Mirian Girogadze    Cuba    Cuba has the talent and experience to win Greco-Roman World team titles and to win a number of medals, each and every year. Cuba does it with a small group of veterans, all who are strong and skilled. When the Cuban team is wrestling well, the whole lineup is outstanding. Even on an off year, Cuba has the ability to win titles and earn medals. This group is no exception.    Cuba is coming off a poor performance (in their standards) at the 2003 World meet, placing seventh. The team had a pair of medalists, silver medalist Roberto Monzon at 60 kg and bronze medalist Lazaro Rivas at 55 kg. Both are serious contenders for the Olympic title. Rivas was a World champion in 1999 and won the 2000 Olympic silver medal. Monzon had World bronze medals in 2001 and 2002.     Aiming for a third Olympic gold medal is the exciting Filiberto Azcuy at 74 kg. He has won six World level medals. Azcuy was one of the four Cuban wrestlers who attended the first Olympic Qualifying Tournament and won the gold medal. Also winning that difficult event were Juan Maren (66 kg), Ernesto Pena (96 kg) and Mijian Lopez (120 kg). Maren is a multiple World medalist and a crafty veteran. Pena and Lopez have established themselves in recent seasons. Lopez has a few wins over Olympic champion Rulon Gardner of the USA. This six-athlete team could run away with it all in Athens, or it could offer a mixed bag. You can be sure there will be some Cubans in the medal rounds.    Tentative Cuban lineup  55 kg - Lazaro Rivas  60 kg - Roberto Monzon  66 kg - Juan Maren  74 kg - Filiberto Azcuy  84 kg - not qualified  96 kg- Ernesto Pena  120 kg - Mijian Lopez    United States    Consider the possibility of the United States winning the Olympic medal count and unofficial team standings. Why not? This is the goal of the team, and based upon recent Olympic efforts, it is clearly a possibility. In 2000, the USA was third in the medal count and the unofficial scoring. In 1996, the USA won three medals. The team had its best World performance in 2001, with a third place effort. Can this team make the changes needed to move past No. 3 and all the way to the top?    You have to start off with 2000 Olympic champion and 2001 World champion Rulon Gardner at 120 kg. He has become a legend, someone who overcomes challenges all the time. He has recovered from his amputated toe and his 2004 accidents to make the team. A gold in Poland in July shows he can still win big matches. Gardner wants to become the first two-time Olympic champion in Greco-Roman for the United States. It is possible.    There are two other past Olympic medalists on the team. Dennis Hall, who dropped in weight to qualify for the Games, is at 55 kg. A former World champion, he won an Olympic silver medal in 1996.  Garrett Lowney was a surprise Olympic bronze medalist in 2000 and is competing at 96 kg. Hall is on his third Olympic team, an amazing career effort. Both seem to be on the rise, and may be able to bring back another medal.    The top U.S. performer in 2003 was Jim Gruenwald, who took fourth in the World at 60 kg. Grue