MOSCOW, Russia – Justin Ruiz’s life has experienced a myriad of changes since his last trip to the World Championships in 2007.

After taking last season off from wrestling, he moved to Boise, Idaho to work and train. He and his wife, Sarah, now have a 14-month-old daughter, Brinklee. They are due to welcome their second daughter in November.

The 2005 World bronze medalist is looking to earn his second World Championships medal when he competes in the Greco-Roman competition on Monday at the Olympiysky Sports Complex in Moscow.

Ruiz, 31, who wrestles for the New York Athletic Club, is competing in the Worlds for the fifth time. He wrestles at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

“This is definitely different from previous trips,” Ruiz said. “I have so much going on in my life right now with my family and with work, that I feel a little more relaxed. I feel real good, I’m excited to wrestle and I’m glad to be back.”

Ruiz placed second at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials before taking a year off from wrestling.

“I think the break helped me a lot,” he said. “My body was able to heal up. I realized how much I love doing this and how much I missed it. I appreciate the sport that much more.”

Ruiz drew Estonia's Richard Karelson for his first-round match on Monday.

Ruiz now trains at the Suples Training Center in Boise under the guidance of Ivan Ivanov, the past head coach at the U.S. Olympic Education Center program at Northern Michigan University.

“Justin’s been really consistent with his training,” Ivanov said. “He’s been working real hard on his gut wrench and his lifts. He’s in great shape and he’s ready to go. His confidence is pretty good.

“He’s very coachable. If he wrestles the way we know he can, he can win a gold medal in this tournament.”

Ruiz will compete on the first day of the seven-day event along with teammates Spenser Mango at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Faruk Sahin at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

“It’s really cool to be back at the Worlds,” Ruiz said. “I’m ready to test myself against the best guys and see how I can do. I’m ready to mix it up and fight out there. I’m excited.”

Ruiz will compete on the first day of the Worlds for the first time.

“I actually prefer this,” he said. “I won’t have to sit around and wait to wrestle. It also will be nice to be able to watch some of the other guys’ matches after I wrestle. Usually when I compete later on in the tournament, I will stay away from the tournament so I don’t get too up or too down from watching the other guys who were wrestling before me. So it will be good to watch them this year when I’m done.”

Ruiz has been away from home and his family for almost two weeks. The U.S. Greco-Roman team trained in Prague, Czech Republic before flying to Russia.

“It seems like every time I’m going on a trip my daughter is doing something new,” Ruiz said. “She is changing so fast. That’s one of the cool things about technology, and having access to the Internet in Europe more than we did a few years back. I can get on Skype now and see my wife and my daughter, and talk to them on the computer.”

Ruiz is hoping he can return home to Boise with another medal.

“I just need to stay focused, be on my game and take advantage of the opportunities I have,” he said. “I need to wrestle smart and control the positions, and not make dumb mistakes. It’s a dogfight every match.”

The last time Ruiz competed in this event the U.S. won the team title in Greco-Roman at the 2007 Worlds in Baku, Azerbaijan. It is the only team title the U.S. has won in this event in Greco-Roman.

“I think we can do great as a team,” Ruiz said. “We have a lot of talent. I think we have a chance to win it again. If everybody brings their A game, we can definitely win the team title here.”