There are 17 members of the U.S. Olympic Team in wrestling this year. (7 freestyle, 6 Greco-Roman, 4 women). There are also official Olympic Coaches, as well as coaching staff members. Each team has a Team Leader. But the U.S. delegation in Athens is much larger. It also includes numerous training partners.    These training parters are vital to the success of the 17 Olympians. In addition to serving as workout partners during training, they are asked to do everything and anything to help the Olympians in their preparation for the Games. In some cases, they are also world-class athletes in their own right, in some cases even former Olympians. And in some weight classes, these training partners are the No. 2 athlete in the division, the wrestler who was beaten in the Olympic Team Trials finals.    The national media is making a big deal about this. The biggest example cited in numerous articles is the fact that Dremiel Byers is the training partner for Rulon Gardner, the man who beat him in the Olympic Trials. To make the story even better, Gardner has announced that he will be giving Byers a chunk of his bonus money if he wins a medal. The gold is worth $40,000 in bonuses, so Byers will benefit for his hard work if Gardner reaches his goals.    Other media are talking about how Brandon Paulson is working out daily with Dennis Hall, who stopped Paulson's Olympic dream in that dramatic 16-plus minute marathon classic in Indianapolis. Paulson and Hall have been friends and were both silver medalists at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Hall dropped down in weight and took the Olympic spot from Paulson. This is a great story. Another good story going a bit under the radar screen is Toccara Montgomery's workout partner on the women's team, two-time World Champion Kristie Marano, who Montgomery beat in the Olympic Trials finals.    Every Olympian has a selected training partner, as well as access to other training partners. Some of them are prominent names. Others are guys or gals who are training every day with the athletes back in their home training sites. The athletes and their Olympic coaches worked together to select these athletes. USA Wrestling brought the athletes to Athens with the Olympians.     The training partners do not have access to the Athlete Village and stay in a hotel. They are not accredited to get into the venue as an athlete, and must enter with a ticket. They are not Olympians, but they are part of the "wrestling" Olympic support team, as red-white-and-blue as those who will be on the mats.    People need to also understand this isn't just a few-week commitment in Athens, a vacation in trade for a a little training. These partners have been doing this all summer long, working out with the Olympians in June and July as well as here in Greece in August. They have also had a long tough summer.    Here are some thoughts from a training partner from each of the three wrestling teams.    Chris Bono is a two-time World Team member and was one of the top freestyle hopefuls for the Athens team. He was defeated in the Challenge Tournament at 66 kg, a spot eventually earned by Jamill Kelly. He is in Athens as a workout partner for Joe Williams, who made the U.S. team at 74 kg.    "It isn't hard in the fact that I am here for Joe," said Bono. "It is hard being here and knowing I can't compete. I still really haven't gotten over losing in the Trials. It will be with me forever. First and foremost, I came here to work with Joe and take care of his needs. When he is done, I can work on what is good for me."     Bono still plans on competing, so being at the Olympic Training camp will assist him with his own goals.    "I will take them one year at a time," said Bono. "It's hard to look ahead. I look at the goal right now and will decide what is best from year to year.    Bono has been writing a journal, which is posted on his web page and sent across the internet through an e-mail chain at Iowa State.    "The journal has been well received at home," said Bono. "I want our recruits to see what this is all about. Young kids who have dreams of being Olympic champions can see what it takes. It also lets the community of Ames, Iowa know what is happening with Cael (Sanderson), Joe (Williams) and Bobby (Douglas)."    Marcie Van Dusen is a talented young athlete, a University World champion earlier this summer. Van Dusen competed at 55 kg in the Olympic Trials and was defeated in the Challenge Tournament. The Olympic spot went to Tela O'Donnell, who like Van Dusen is a USOTC resident athlete. Marcie is here in Athens helping train O'Donnell, who is in her own weight class.    "This is the second step. If you don't win the Trials, you do everything you can to help the USA be the best. That is my job," said Van Dusen. "Someday I want to be in their shoes, so I want my training partner to be as good for me as I am for them. It is not hard for me now. I know it is part of the process."    "We are around for them. We hang out, tease them and try to keep the environment the same as at the Olympic Training Center. They don't have to deal with all the pressures on them when they are with us," said Van Dusen.    Van Dusen is learning everything she can at the Olympics, and taking advantage of this opportunity.    "It is a good experience all around," said Van Dusen. "I have never been to the Olympics before. I am glad to support all of the Americans in all of the events. It is educational, too. It is nice to see the process they go through."    Justin Ruiz was very close to being an Olympian. He won the U.S. Nationals at 96 kg, beating 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Garrett Lowney in the finals. However, at the Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, Lowney beat Ruiz twice to make his second team. Ruiz is here to train with 85 kg Olympian Brad Vering, a regular workout partner at the Olympic Training Center, and a fellow Univ. of Nebraska Cornhusker.  Ruiz is also glad to be part of the support team in Athens.    "After I got beat in the Trials, I was disappointed. But Brad wanted me to be his training partner. You never know what will happen in the future. It is important to have good partners. I knew I could help in that respect," said Ruiz.    "The coaches ask you to do things," said Ruiz. "I lugged the computer on the plane and set it up here. We do whatever we are asked. We sit in the sauna or check in on somebody. Pretty much it is just training. Things are going smoothly, so it has mostly been doing training."    Ruiz has done a few things outside of the wrestling room, getting a taste of the Olympic experience.    "I have been to the beach a couple of times. I have been to the Acropolis and saw the Parthenon. I did some shopping. I have seen some events, like volleyball," said Ruiz.    He has also worked out with Lowney, the guy who beat him, when Garrett requests him. That has also gone well.    "We get along," said Ruiz about Lowney. "There is no animosity. We are just competitors. He is a great guy. I respect him and hope he gets the gold."    Training Partners.    Part of every medal won by a U.S. wrestler in Athens will have their hard work and effort included in it. USA Wrestling needs these training partners, and those who are part of the team understand their value and appreciate their efforts.