The class at this division has been 1996 Olympic Champion Bouvaisa Saitiev of Russia, who is the reigning World champion and has won four World gold medals. Saitiev rebounded from a disappointing 2000 Olympics, where he lost to American champion Brandon Slay in the pool competition, to win the World last year. Saitiev has a creative and open style of wrestling that is exciting to watch and hard to beat. If Saitiev does not wrestle, Russia has a stable of young stars looking for an opportunity to take his place.    The 2001 World silver medalist was Moon Eui-Jae of Korea, who also captured an Olympic silver at this weight. Moon competed up at 84 kg at the 2002 World Cup, so he may not even be in the mix at this division.    Winning the 2001 World bronze was Joe Williams of the United States, who was also fourth in the 1999 World Championships. Williams had a close and controversial loss to Saitiev in the World semifinals, his only loss of the 2001 season. Williams has won three straight World Cup titles, and has been the most consistent U.S. athlete during the last two years. Williams is strong, fast and makes few mistakes, the formula used by many U.S. stars at this weight division. He hopes to join champion wrestlers such as Stan Dziedzic, Lee Kemp, Dave Schultz, Kenny Monday and Brandon Slay who have won the gold in this rugged division.    The weight includes some veteran stars including last year's fourth place World finisher Radion Kertanti of Slovakia and fifth-place Arpad Ritter of Hungary. Ritter won the gold medal at the 2002 European Championships. Both are veterans who are in the hunt each year, yet neither has proven the ability to win a medal.     Other placewinners from last year including Mehdi Joybari of Iran, Rezo Mindorashvili of Georgia, Jari Olmana of Finland, Yavaser Gokhan of Turkey and Eugen Preda of Romania.  None of these athletes have yet distinguished themselves as medal favorites, but are seeking to break through this year. Adem Bareket of Turkey, the 2000 Olympic bronze medalist, did not compete at this level last year but would be an immediate factor if he returns.    This weight may also feature 2000 Olympic champion Daniel Igali of Canada, who moves up from 69 kg, and 1994 World Champion Alexander Leipold of Germany. Igali has battled injuries since his 2000 triumph and hopes to return to form.  He was defeated at the Dave Schultz International at this weight class this year, an indication that he is not yet a force at this weight. Leipold, after serving a year suspension for steroid use, did not place in the Worlds last year and was sixth in the 2002 European Championships. Likewise, his third place at the 2002 World Cup, including a loss to U.S. star Williams, shows that he may not yet back to his top form. Igali and Leipold reportedly had a great match in a European tournament this year, won by Leipold, 3-2 in overtime. Neither can be taken lightly in Iran.    Among the top placewinners at the Sydney Olympics were Gennadiy Laliyev of Kazakhstan, Ruslan Hinchagov of Uzbekistan and Alik Muzaev of Ukraine. Others to watch are Mourad Gaidarov of Belarus, Magomed Isagaschiev of Russia, Gurami Michedlidze of Georgia, Elchad Allakhverdiev of Azerbaijan, Yosmany Romero of Cuba and Buvandelger Batbayar of Mongolia. Romero is strong and aggressive, and could be a difficult draw for any of the favorites. None of the competitors from the former Soviet republics can be overlooked at this division, either.    This weight division has traditionally been one of the most exciting and star-studded on the international scene. Many fans would love to see a Saitiev vs. Williams rematch in the gold-medal finals, but with the blind draw and other factors, nothing will come easily for either wrestler.     2001 World Championships results   76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Gold - Bouvaisa Saitiev (Russia) dec. Moon Eiu-Jae (Korea), 3-1; Bronze - Joe Williams (USA) won by tech. fall over Radion Kertanti (Slovakia), 10-0; 6th -  Mehdi Hajizadeh Joybari (Iran); 7th - Rezo Mindorashvili (Georgia); 8th -  Jari Olmana (Finland); 9th -  Yavaser Gokhan (Turkey); 10th - Eugen Preda (Romania)    2000 Olympic Games results   76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Gold -Brandon Slay (United States); Silver - Moon Eui-Jae (Korea); Bronze - Adem Bereket (Turkey); 4th - Gennadiy Laliyev (Kazakhstan) ; 5th - Ruslan Hinchagov (Uzbekistan); 6th - Alik Muzaev (Ukraine); 7th - Nasir Gadzhikanov (FYR Macedonia); 8th - Marcin Jurecki (Poland); 9th - Bouvaissa Saitiev (Russia); 10th - Elshad Allahverdiyev (Azerbaijan); 11th - Yosmany Romero (Cuba); 12th - Pejman Dorostkar (Iran); 13th - Guram McHedlidze (Georgia); 14th - Jannie du Toit (South Africa); 15th - Radion Kertanti (Slovakia); 16th - Plamen Paskalev (Bulgaria); 17th - Rein Ozoline (Australia); 18th - Arpad Ritter (Hungary); 19th - Tumen-Ulzii Munkhbayar (Mongolia)  Medal Matches   Gold - Alexander Leipold (Germany) dec. Brandon Slay (United States), 4-0; Bronze - Moon Eui-Jae (Korea) pin Adem Bereket (Turkey), 2:42; Note: Leipold tested positive for the steroid nandrolone, according to the IOC on October 16, 2000 and had his medal stripped, moving all placewinners up one position.