Not only is he the oldest competitor at the Olympic Team Trials at 42 years, he has one of the most inspiring stories in amateur sport. Meet Ramie Mohlman of Lantana, Fla., Olympic Team Trials competitor at 55 kg.    

Born with congenital heart disease, Mohlman's wrestling career suddenly ended in his early 20's when his heart problems began to wear him down.  Mohlman was forced to have open-heart surgery in the late 1980's and was told he should not continue to compete. After about two decades off the mat competing, Mohlman made a comeback.    

 The 2003 season was the first time Mohlman started wrestling Greco-Roman again, entering in the Veteran's 40-45 years old age group. At the 2003 World Team Trials in Indianapolis, Ind. while participating in the Silver Coaches Clinic, Mohlman decided that he would be there the next year not as a coach or a spectator, but as an athlete. He set a goal to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Wrestling in Indianapolis, Ind., May 21-23, and would not stop until he achieved it.    

Participating in the North Olympic Team Trials Regional Qualifier, he lost in the gold medal match to Luke Smith 10-0. Mohlman then headed to the 2004 U.S. Nationals in Las Vegas, Nev. and lost his first match 14-3, and did not place.    

He decided not to give up after these losses, and traveled to the "Last Chance" Olympic Team Trials qualifier in Kenner, La. At this regional, Mohlman pinned Jay Field of the U.S Air Force in 2:34 in the semifinals and beat Aaron Lee of the Lee WC, 4-3 for the gold medal. Mohlman earned a spot in the Challenge Tournament at the Olympic Trials.     

After this Regional, Mohlman described his experience as surreal.    

"It was huge, I couldn't believe it," boasts Mohlman. "I have the opportunity to make the U.S. Olympic Team, something that happens only once every four years. This is a special thing for me, for everyone."     

Born with only two valves in his heart unlike most humans who have three valves, Mohlman has been known to do things even when he is told he should not. His motivation is to do things even though the odds may be against him.    

 A majority of Mohlman's life has included wrestling. He grew up in Michigan, a hot bed of wrestling, home of many wrestling greats including Olympic and World champion Kevin Jackson, Olympic champion Steve Fraser, and Olympic Silver medalist Zeke Jones.    

Molhman started wrestling in fifth grade after watching Dan Gable in the early 70's. It was then when the vision started. Despite being born with congenital heart disease, according to Mohlman, his heart problems did not really affect him when he was young throughout middle and high school.     

Mohlman recieved a partial scholarship to Eastern Michigan in 1981 and recorded a 20-7 record as a freshman. One week after the NCAA National Championship, Mohlman's sister died in her sleep from a seizure.      After this tragedy struck the Mohlman family, Ramie did not come back to wrestle his sophomore season at Eastern Michigan. The spring of 1981 was the last time he would wrestle in college.     

"I was burned out and started to have more heart problems," explained Mohlman.     

Mohlman's loss of scholarship and bad grades caused him to drop out of Eastern Michigan his Junior year.     

In 1982, Mohlman attempted to join the U.S. Army and continue to wrestle Greco-Roman. Mohlman did not pass a physical exam because of the heart problems. He was told by the doctors he would have to have open heart surgery.    

Vowing not to let his condition get the best of him, Mohlman continued to be active even returning back to Eastern Michigan to finish school.  However, he began to have doubts about everything and did not finish school or wrestle again.     

In 1984, Mohlman moved to Florida where he got a job as a lifeguard and worked out at a local high school.    

Mohlman's heart condition was getting worse. In 1989, he was unable to pass his physical test to be a lifeguard, a position he had held for a few years. He then decided to have open-heart surgery, in which the doctor inserted a metallic aorta valve in his heart.     

After his open-heart surgery, Mohlman was unable to work as a lifeguard again. He got married, started a family, and went back to school to pursue a degree in graphic design.     

After receiving his degree, Mohlman began teaching graphic arts at Palm Beach Lakes High School, in Palm Beach, Fla . He also coaches wrestling there, a program he has shaped to be in the top five in the conference, and also coaches cross-country.     

In his classes, he sometimes has physically challenged students. Mohlman says these are his favorite students to work with.     

"I love working with them because they teach me also. I always let them know not to let anyone tell them they can't do something. Time and time again, people are overcoming adversity and being driven by someone telling them they aren't able to do it," he said.    

Mohlman is oldest competitor in the whole tournament. He is in a field of wrestlers that range in age from 21 years old to 31 years old. Mohlman is 11 years older than his next closest competitor in age and 21 years older than the youngest competitor in this weight class.     Not only is he up against athletes who are at most 21 years younger, there are two Olympic silver medalists in the weight, Brandon Paulson and Dennis Hall.    

"I realize how competitive the competition is," said Mohlman. "Being the underdog helps because no one expects anything."    

Mohlman understands that most of his competitors are train fulltime with others at their weight, where as he is lucky to have a training partner at the West Palm Beach Wrestling Club he can wrestle with on a daily basis.     

Included in his training daily are six mile runs on the beach every evening and a lot of stretching. He also has a 70-pound wrestling dummy that he works with too.     

"I am responsible for my own training," explained Mohlman.  "I am at a disadvantage because I am not able to work on technique as often. Due to lack of experience, I am weak in par terre. I work on other things though, flexibility and conditioning."    

This weekend, May 21-23, at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Wrestling, Mohlman will be supported by his family, including his parents and three younger brothers. He will not only be representing Palm Beach, but every other athlete who was told at some point they were not supposed to continue in their sport due to health problems.      Mohlman says he is just going to go out and wrestle, not letting himself get caught up in the things he is lacking.    

"I am excited to wrestle this weekend. I am going to go as hard as I can," said Mohlman. "As of right now, I am ready to go another four years."   

After Olympic Trials is over, no matter what the outcome is, he is going to continue to wrestle all summer. He will assume the role of a student, student of Greco-Roman wrestling.     

"I am happy to be where I am at right now," exclaimed Mohlman. "I have reached my goal of qualifying for the Olympic Trials. Whatever happens now is extra."