Russia continues to be the top nation in international freestyle wrestling, after claiming the team title at the 2001 World Championships with four individual champions. At the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, Russia won five medals, including four gold medals. The Russians also won the team title at the 1997 World Championships (held on their home mats) and the 1999 World Championships held in Turkey. They placed second in the 1998 World Championships in Iran.    The team was especially strong in the higher weights, winning gold medals at 85 kg, 97 kg and 130 kg for the past two years. Russia continues to develop a mix of experienced veterans and talented young athletes, and a number of past World or Olympic medalists are unable to earn spots in the starting lineup.    The reduction of weight classes to seven, along with the blind-draw pool system, makes it increasingly difficult for the most powerful nations to maintain their dominance. Countries can make a big move up in the standings based upon a few strong individual performances.    The other two top wrestling nations in recent years have been the United States and Iran. The USA was a strong second behind Russia in the 2000 Olympic Games, based upon medal count and unofficial standings. In 2001, with an almost completely new lineup, the United States was fifth in the team standings, with two medalists and no champions. The USA lost the home advantage after the World meet was moved from New York City after the September 11 attacks on the nation. Based upon recent performances, the USA is expected to improve in the second year of this four-year Olympic cycle, as the young team gains experience. The 2002 lineup features a mix of experience and youth, with a potential medalist in every division.    Iran showed its depth with a third-place finish at the 2001 World Championships, led by three silver medalists. Iran will host the 2002 World Championships, and the last time the World Championships were hosted in Tehran in 1998, Iran won the team title.  Do not be surprised if Iran has some individual champions for its intense and supportive fans. At the Olympic Games, Iran claimed only one medal, a gold at 58 kg, but had three wrestlers place fourth. In the unofficial team standings (using World Championship point system), Iran was a strong third in the Sydney competition.     The surprise team in 2001 was Bulgaria, which hosted the postponed World Championships, and placed second with two champions. Bulgaria must come back with a strong 2002 season to prove that last  year's result was not just an abberation. The change in weight classes may hurt Bulgaria, as both of their individual champions may end up at the same weight division this year.    As in other years, former Soviet Republics have had strong teams. Georgia was the top former republic in 2001, placing fourth, followed by Ukraine in eighth and Uzbekistan in ninth. Belarus, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan were also among the top 20 nations last year. The key to these teams is their individual stars. The former Soviet republic team that moves more of its stars into the medal rounds will emerge in the top of the team race.    Turkey and Cuba continued strong performances by placing sixth and seventh in 2001. Turkey, a traditional wrestling power, jumped to a third-place team finish when it hosted the World Championships in 1999. Cuba showed its strength with two Olympic medalists in Sydney, and a fourth place in the unofficial standings. Korea, which was 10th in 2001, has been a contending nation in recent seasons, with strength in the lighter weights.     Other nations that have developed some talented individuals have included Mongolia, Hungary, Canada, Germany, Greece, Poland, Slovakia and Romania. Mongolia came to the 2002 World Cup, an indication that the nation is once again seeking to make an impact on the world scene. Greece, which has a number of naturalized competitors from the former Soviet Union, may be beefing up its teams in anticipation for the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Canada has crowned champions the last two years, both naturalized citizens, and is building a stronger freestyle program.     If North Korea sends a team, which happens with more frequency as the next Olympics approach, they may make an impact, especially in the lightweights. It would not be surprising if China takes a step up in its program, with the 2008 Olympics already on its radar screen. It could be a volatile team race, as every athlete that competes for a medal will score major points for his team, and every talented wrestler who loses in his pool will set their team back.    2001 World Championships results   1. Russia, 51 pts.; 2. Bulgaria, 46 ; 3. Iran, 37; 4. Georgia, 31; 5. United States, 28; 6. Turkey - 27; 7. Cuba, 25; 8. Ukraine, 23; 9. Uzbekistan, 21; 10. Korea, 19; 11. Belarus, 18; 12. Mongolia, 16; 13. Azerbaijan, 14; 14. Hungary, 13; 15. Canada, 12; 16. (tie) Kazakstan, 10; 16. (tie) Slovakia, 10; 18. Romania, 10; 19. Poland, 6; 20. Greece , 6     Unofficial team standings for 2000 Olympics   Russia, 54 pts.; United States, 49 pts.; Iran 37 pts.; Cuba, 28 pts.; Belarus, 27 pts.; Uzbekistan, 25 pts.; Kakakhstan, 22 pts.; Korea, 22 pts.; Ukraine, 20 pts.; Azerbaijan, 17 pts.; Greece, 15 pts.; Georgia, 14 pts.; Armenia, 14 pts.; Macedonia, 12 pts.; Canada, 10 pts.; Moldova, 10 pts.; Poland, 10 pts.; Turkey, 10 pts.; Bulgaria, 9 pts.; Mongolia, 6 pts.; Kyrgyzstan, 6 pts.; Germany, 6 pts.; Hungary, 4 pts.; Slovakia, 3 pts.; Romania, 3 pts.; Netherlands, 3 pts.; North Korea, 2 pts.; Japan, 1 pt.; Switzerland, 1 pt.