Justin Lester enjoys a light moment during the U.S. Olympic Greco-Roman press conference last week in London. John Sachs photo.

LONDON – Justin Lester doesn’t have a second of Olympic experience.

But he firmly believes he will be the man standing atop the podium as the Olympic Games Greco-Roman wrestling champion at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. on Aug. 7.

The two-time World bronze medalist and five-time World Team member is eager to step onto wrestling’s biggest stage for the first time.

Upset by teenager Jake Deitchler in the 2008 Olympic Trials, Lester pulled off the boots and said he was done after placing third at the 2008 Trials in Las Vegas.

Now four years later, at age 28, Lester is on the verge of a life-changing moment.

“For me, it’s gold or nothing,” Lester said. “Silver or bronze is ok, but I already have two World medals. I came back this quad to win an Olympic gold medal. That’s all I’m pushing for. I am definitely here to win gold. I just need to dominate each match.”

Lester, fifth in the World last year, has been training at the University of East London at Docklands. It is the training site for a majority of American athletes, including the Olympic men’s and women’s basketball teams.

“Everything is going great here,” he said. “I made it here and made it through training camps back home, and now I just need to keep training until Aug. 7 and get the job done that day. Everything has been good here in London with the training facilities being really good.

"The Olympic Village is great. We are all in an apartment, living in close quarters, so there is a lot of joking around and giving each other a hard time. It’s been a fun experience.”

The 5-foot-7 Lester plans to put his explosive arsenal on full display at the Olympics.

“I need to wrestle an all-out style,” Lester said. “If I give up a point, I need to score two points back. I want to break my opponent and push the pace. I want to wrestle an exciting style. I want to score as many points as I can. If I push the pace, I know I can win this gold medal.”

The U.S. has won just three Olympic gold medals in Greco-Roman wrestling. U.S. National Coach Steve Fraser won the first one in 1984 before heavyweights Jeff Blatnick (1984) and Rulon Gardner (2000) followed with Olympic titles.

Lester has experienced a lot over the past four years, including joining the U.S. Army’s World Class Athlete Program and becoming a father for the first time.

“I decided to step away from wrestling in 2008, but that didn’t last long,” he said. “I came back in 2009 and made the World Team up a weight class. I went into the corporate world after that, but that didn’t last long and I decided to come back to wrestling.

"It’s taken a toll on me and my family, but I’m here now and I’m ready to take care of business. I need to win an Olympic gold medal.”