USA Wrestling has announced that 2011 World Team member Justin Ruiz (Orem, Utah/New York AC) will represent the United States at the upcoming World Olympic Games Qualifying Tourmaments in late April and early May at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman.

The United States has not yet qualified to compete in the 2012 London Olympic Games at two weight classes, 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman and 60 kg/132 lbs. in men’s freestyle. The USA has earned a spot in the other 16 Olympic weight classes in the three international styles.

The next Olympic qualifying opportunity is the World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Taiyuan, China, April 27-29. Only athletes whose nation has not yet qualified for the London Games will be able to enter this event at each weight class. The top three placewinners in this event in each weight class will qualify their nation to compete at the Olympic Games.

If Ruiz does not qualify at the event in China, he will then compete in the final Olympic qualifying event, the World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Helsinki, Finland, May 4-6. The top two placewinners in the qualifier in Finland qualify their nation to compete in the Olympic Games.

Because Ruiz will be involved in qualifying the United States for the Olympic Games in his weight class, he will not be entered in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling in Iowa City, Iowa, April 21-22.

This means that the winner at 96 kg/211.5 lbs in Greco-Roman at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials does not secure a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team yet. 

The Olympic Trials regulations for Greco-Roman provides for a Secondary 2012 Olympic Trials for weight classes which were not qualified for the Olympics prior to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.

In the case of 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman, if the USA qualifies for the Olympics, a Secondary Olympic Trials will be held. A best-of-three series between Ruiz and the U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion will be held at a date and site to be determined.

If Ruiz does not qualify the nation at the first event held in China, and is unable to compete in the event in Finland due to injury or similar circumstance, an athlete from the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Greco-Roman at 96 kg in Greco-Roman will compete in the final event in Finland for the United States.

Ruiz was a 2005 World bronze medalist, and has competed in the World Championships for the United States six times. He was also a 2007 Pan American Games champion. Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, he was an NCAA All-American for the Univ. of Nebraska.

The decision on how Team USA will manage the qualifying situation for 60 kg/132 lbs. in men’s freestyle has not yet been finalized.