Men's freestyle Olympic Games session 4 quotes
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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
08/28/2004
55 kg/121 lbs. - Stephen Abas, Fresno, Calif. (Sunkist Kids) What are your general thoughts on winning the silver? "I feel that this has been a great experience for me. It's the highest I've placed in a tournament at this level, so I take pride in that. Obviously we all want to win. It just wasn't my day today. I'll definitely be looking forward to the Olympics in China." Did you feel he expected all the shots you took? "I believe he's a really counter wrestler. I took some pretty good shots on him and I think I could have finished them a little better. But he's pretty good there and was able to throw me over for those points." Can you describe your mindset after not achieving your goal of gold? "I think everything is a learning experience. Like I said before, this is the highest I've placed at this level, so I feel like I am improving. At the 2008 Olympic Games in China, I plan to be an Olympic champ. We can't always control what happens in matches, but I think that everything is a learning experience and I feel that I will be ready." 66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jamill Kelly, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC) What are your thoughts on the match? "He's a great competitor. I knew he had a great leg lace. I didn't defend it as well as I should have. He scored four points off of it. I lost the match 5-1. If he don't get those points, it's a totally different match. Once he got those points, he just kind of stayed in good position. I was a little timid about pulling the trigger. I don't know if it was the atmosphere or what. I didn't shoot until the last few minutes or so and I should have been shooting earlier." Can you be pleased with a silver? "I came here to win just like everybody else did. You ask anybody if they're happy with a silver, and they tell you yeah, then they're not a true competitor." Did experience get the best of you? "It's his third Olympics. It's his first time placing at the Olympics, but he's a three-time World champion and multiple medalist. He definitely had experience as far as that goes." 74 kg/163 lbs. - Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) Were you nervous when it took so long to score the final points from the officials? "I was fortunate to hold him there for a couple of seconds, so that really showed the referee that I had control in that position. Any time you can put yourself into those kinds of positions, the outcome can be good for you." Evaluate your day. "Both matches were real sluggish. I didn't get a strong warmup in like I thought I should have. But I still was able to come out and score and finish the match. The second match here, I was a little more consistent. I kind of hesitated a little. I think that kept the match close. But I was able to do what I needed to do to win." 84 kg/185 lbs. - Cael Sanderson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) How do you feel? "I'm happy. It's been a long road and I hoping to realize it's over soon. It's a tough tournament and I'm glad to be here. It's just a great experience. I had fun even when I was behind in my matches." Were you nervous being down in the second period? "He was real strong and real smart and he was wrestling a real good match. I knew I had to get something going or it was going to slip away." What were you thinking when they went to video review for your two points? "You never know what you're going to get, especially in a situation like that, so to get two points out of that - that was big." Was it emotional to see your coaches run on the mat after the win? "Coach Jackson and Coach Douglas are such great coaches. You want to win for them so bad. To see them excited and happy like that, it's an indescribable feeling." Why didn't you wave a flag around when you won? "I didn't plan a celebration. I'm not good with props. I just wanted to get out of there before I made a fool out of myself really." What are your plans now? "I'm just going to relax. Spend some time with my wife and my dogs. I don't have any straight plans. I'm planning to stay at Iowa State and help with the wrestling program. But other than that, I'm just enjoying life right now." 96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Daniel Cormier, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC) How did you feel in this last match? "I felt good this match. Better than this morning. That's the important thing - trying to get better every match. My conditioning felt better. The first match is always the toughest to get out of you. It's because you haven't wrestled live in a while." How has this U.S. team continued to stay on a roll? "We've trained for this. Coach Jackson, Coach Jones, Coach Brands and Coach Douglas - they've all done a real good job of preparing for this tournament and for this atmosphere. They've simulated everything that we could encounter here."