Over the course of the past four years, Joe Williams has established himself as one of the most dominant American freestyle wrestlers. He also has a bronze medal to go with that distinction, winning it at the 2001 World Championships.    Now, Williams' is closer than ever to achieving his goal of becoming an Olympian.    TheMat.com spoke with Williams about the upcoming Olympic Team Trials and the path he has led since 2000.    TheMat.com: You won your fifth U.S. Nationals title in April and fourth in-a-row. What has helped you to become so dominant in the U.S. in the last four years?  Williams: In the last 4 years I have stepped outside of myself and have looked at how I have been wrestling.  By doing this it gave me a different perspective on what I needed to focus on to make me a better overall wrestler.  I have also had some very important coaches along the way that added some valuable insight into my training as well.    TheMat.com: You lost in your pool this year to Habibi of Iran in a tight match at the World Championships. How hard was that loss for you to accept and how long did it take to recover?  Williams: I take any loss to heart.  That loss, however was really hard to deal with because I not only let myself down but family members, wrestling fans and the coaches that put so much time and effort into making sure that we were ready to dominate as a team and as individuals.  I still have not recovered from that loss, but I have learned a great deal from it.  Anytime you accept a loss it becomes easy for you to lose the next time around.    TheMat.com: In February, you had to go to Slovakia to qualify your weight class for the Olympics for the U.S. Was it a benefit for you to go overseas and get such quality competition at that time?  Williams: Yes, going overseas and qualifying my weight class for the Olympics was a benefit to me.  I was able to spend individual time with our National Team coach Kevin Jackson.  Any time you can spend individual time with Kevin, there's only one place to go and that's up.  He's positive, a strong leader, and he's been to where I'm trying to get. So, why shouldn't I listen and learn everything I can from him.  The entire trip was very positive and another great learning experience that I'll cherish for a lifetime.    TheMat.com: In 2001, you won a World bronze medal. Are you still at that same level, or do you feel you are at a higher level now than you were then?  Williams: I am definitely at a higher level than I was at the 2001 World Championships.  My knowledge about the sport has improved, my technique is up to par, and I have experience. I'm concentrating only on freestyle at the Olympic Training Center.    TheMat.com: 2000 was a big heartbreak for you. How hard was it to sit back and watch Brandon Slay win the gold medal at a weight class you were favored to win in the U.S.?  Williams: Brandon Slay did what he needed to do to make the 2000 Olympic Team and bring home the gold.  My hat's off to him for that.  You live, you learn!    TheMat.com: Did you take things for granted that year, or was Slay just at the top of his game at the time?  Williams: Brandon Slay wrestled well at the US Nationals, the Olympic Trials, and the Olympics.  What more could you ask out of an athlete?  I try not to overlook any of my competition and I certainly don't make excuses for having lost in the US Nationals and Olympic Trials.    TheMat.com: You recently made the move out to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to train full-time. Why?  Williams: It's the best place to train if you have aspirations on winning an Olympic gold medal.  I'm training full-time and only concentrating on freestyle.  I'm working out with some of the best athletes involved in my style of wrestling.    TheMat.com: In what ways do you feel this move has benefited you?  Williams: I have several freestyle coaches watching me throughout the entire practice.  If I'm not doing the correct technique, Coach Jackson, Sergei Beloglazov, and Dave Bennett will make sure they let me know.  Most importantly, the wrong technique won't work on the guys out at the Olympic Training Center.  We are all training full-time in par terre offense, defense, and the neutral position.  If something is going to work it has to be done correctly.    TheMat.com: Throughout your entire career, who do you feel has had the most influence on you and why?  Williams: My brother Steven Williams passing away and my resignation at the University of Iowa.  First, my brother because we use to talk about wrestling in the Olympics and winning the gold for our country.  I wanted him to be around for me to accomplish my goal.    TheMat.com: If you could wrestle one active wrestler in the world right now, who would it be and why?  Williams: Buvaysa Saitiev, because he has proven himself to be the best in my weight class.