Men's freestyle Olympic Games session 5 quotes
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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
08/29/2004
74 kg/163 lbs. - Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) What are your thoughts on the match? "It was a tough match. There were some things I did good and some things I could have improved on. Obviously losing is not something you think about when you come into the Olympics, so this is definitely hard. I just need to prepare to wrestle for fifth place now." 96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Daniel Cormier, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC) What happened in this last match? "I didn't come to wrestle the way I should have. I need to be at my best in this tournament, and I wasn't able to do that out there. I really can't explain it any more than that." Olympic Coach - Kevin Jackson, Colorado Springs, Colo. Can you assess the U.S. performance today? "We didn't wrestle a bad match, but he did have a loss of concentration for the win. In the clinch position, that athlete unlocked his hands, and Joe knew it. Joe unlocked his hands and thought the guy was just going to quit wrestling I guess. The guy ended up pushing him out of bounds for one. It's been a little controversial with that call throughout the tournament. Sometimes they're giving it and sometimes they're not. Joe knew that the call could be made, and he should have just circled hard once that lock was broken and he wins that match." "Daniel did not come with the energy and the hunger that he usually comes with. Maybe the event, maybe not. We put a little pressure on him to when he didn't compete the way he's capable of competing. To win an Olympic gold medal, or to win a medal period, you've got to work a little harder. You've got to have your best match and you have to take it."