USOC Media Summit Teleconference, May 14, 2004    featuring top U.S. wrestlers in preparation for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Wrestling in Indianapolis, Ind., May 21-23     Men's Freestyle:   Stephen Abas (Fresno, Calif./Sunkist Kids)   Kerry McCoy (Bethlehem, Pa./New York AC)   Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa/Sunkist Kids)     Greco-Roman:   Rulon Gardner (Cascade, Colo./Sunkist Kids)   Brad Vering (Colo. Spgs., Colo./New York AC)     Women's Freestyle:    Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army)    Toccara Montgomery (Cleveland, Ohio/New York AC)     FORMAL INTERVIEW WITH MODERATOR    Q for Abas:  How has the 2003 World Championships experienced improved you?  Abas: " More than anything, I am more motivated to do better this year. I was a little disappointed last year. As a finish to this year, going out and winning the gold medal in Athens will make up for that."    Q for McCoy:  How important was it for your confidence to win a medal at the 2003 World Championships?  McCoy: "It was very important. It proved to all my doubters and to myself that I can win on the international level. I was close before. Now I have one more step to climb, that is to win the Olympic gold."    Q for Williams:  You have won four straight national titles. Do you feel any pressure to win in the Olympic Trials?  Williams: "I think every competition is the same. You have to go out and wrestle. The only pressure is what I put on myself. I don't think there will be any added pressure on me."    Q for Gardner:  Explain to us your health situation and how well your training is going.  Gardner: "The last month and a half, I had two different situations. There was a motorcycle mishap when a person pulled out in front of me. I got some road rash from that. Three days later, I was playing basketball where I hit my wrist and dislocated it. I have to rehabilitate it so I can perform at my best level at the Trials."    Q for Vering:  How have you been able to stay consistent, while your weight class continues to get tougher and tougher?  Vering: "I think trying to outwork your opponents and out perform them in competition is important. You try to stay at your best all the time. But, definitely, you try to outwork your opponents."    Q for George:  How do you manage your time between wrestling training and military commitments?  George: "I have been very fortunate. My Army training is now placed around my wrestling training. After the Olympics, I will assume my full-time Army training."    Q for Montgomery:  After losing in the World finals to Japan's Hamaguchi, you beat her a few weeks later at the World Cup. How important was that win?  Montgomery: "It was a huge step. A lot of people doubted me. I knew I could do it. I wanted to take from her in Japan what she took from me in New York."    --------------------------------------------    QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS     Q for Gardner as a followup on his medical condition  Gardner: "The latest with my wrist is I had three pins placed in it to stabilize my wrist. From that point, I have had limited practices. This week I had all my pins taken out and am still training. Hopefully, with many prayers, I will have a good performance in Indianapolis."    Q for Gardner about Dremiel Byers  Gardner: With Dremiel Byers, we are both at the high level. It represents how good wrestling is in America. Against him, I have a World champion standing right in front of me. It is really a good situation for me. Hopefully I can be successful."    Q for McCoy about concerns about Athens  McCoy: "I don't think it's tougher than ever before. We are a favorite to watch, but we are also a favorite to get beat. That is the way it has been in all the World Championships I have wrestled at. We have to be that much more prepared to beat our opponent. You have to beat the officials and the fans. Sometimes, you wrestle against history, because of our past success. You have to do that much better in every match."    Q for Gardner about his physical condition and if he will retire if he loses in Indianapolis  Gardner: "My wrist is limited in what it can do. The last pin was just taken out. The doctor said not to push it too hard. I would say I am at 50%. This could be my final hurrah. Retirement is what I am looking at after. I gave Greco-Roman wrestling eight years. That is what I had planned when I came into it back in 1996."    Q for Gardner about why he played basketball  Gardner: "I was going to wrestle, but my training partner didn't show up that day. A lot of the guys wanted to play some basketball. It is a way we do some cross training. After I hurt my wrist, the doctor said they don't suggest you wrestle. But they said they would support me if I did try to compete."    Q for George and Montgomery about the weight class changes, and about being from Cleveland.  George: "I think the opportunity to be in the Olympics is tremendous. It is no mistake that Kip Flanik was both of our coaches, although we started at different times. I attribute our success to him and his commitment to women's wrestling and his confidence in our ability to be successful. In regard to the weight class change, I was at 123 pounds and the new weight is at 121 pounds. That is only two pounds lighter, so it did not affect me."  Montgomery: "I was affected. My original weight class was 147 pounds. I had to move up to 158 pounds. It was not easy. After three years, I have adjusted and my body is used to it. I owe most of my wrestling to Kip Flanik. He got me started and gave me all of the opportunities that the guys had."    Q for Abas about learning from the loss at the 2003 World meet  Abas: "Anytime you have a loss, you have things to work on. I was turned in the match I lost. It was one of the things I have worked on. It was disappointing to lose in the quarterfinals, and I have had to work from there. I have worked much on my par terre wrestling."    Q for McCoy about his thoughts about security in Athens  McCoy: I think before we get there, we will be briefed about what to do and not do. That will be determined by the time we get there. If it is safe, I want to see as much of Athens as I can after my competition. It will depend on what the USOC and the State Department decide is best for us."    Q for George about her thoughts about security in Athens  George: "We had a chance to tour Greece and see the Village and other places as part of the USOC Athletes Summit there. We were given a security briefing, We were given an assurance we would be safe. We have emergency plans in place. I would like to stay a few days extra and see the country. I'm happy with the level of security. I'm convinced it will work."    Q for Vering about the Olympic Trials system, where the national champion is automatically in the Olympic Trials finals.  Vering: "It is a pretty good system. You have to narrow down the competitors for the Olympic Trials. We have the nationals and some regional events to do that. Winning the national championships gives you an advantage. You don't have to get beaten up in the Challenge Tournament. It gives you more incentive to win the national championships. It also gives us another big tournament for wrestling to promote and build the sport."    Q for Williams about the Olympic Trials system, where the national champion is automatically in the Olympic Trials finals.  Williams: "It is a good situation to be on the top. You let your body rest up, and you can focus on one or two athletes who might advance through the Challenge Tournament. We will benefit from being there as national champions."    Q for Williams about his wrestling family heritage and if he talks with his high school coach Bill Weick  Williams: "The relationship with my brothers and family has always been close. My brothers understand what it takes to get there. They remind me of the dre