Cary Kolat » It's Not About The Money

I agree with most of what Kolat said and add that I think the reason why guys are doing only "one quad" olympic training is that we live in an age where economics (ie: cost of living/inflation since the 1990s) plays a bigger role in the decision making. For this, financial incentives would help. The other key issue is that international rules have moved further away from a collegiate wrestler's strengths.

Cary is right on. I would say that the money would keep more guys for longer. if there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow more guys would stay longer. with the rise of the ufc many top guys have said i am going to be a world champion and make a great living. the earlier quad guys didnt have any other outlet to become a world champion and make great money. in this day and age it takes both. from what i hear the russians make some pretty good money according to their standards.no money no depth.

I do agree with Cary Kolat (and Randall Lewis) in that there does not appear to be the depth at each weight class year in and year out as there had been in the past. We may simply be going through an extreme dry spell, it's possible. Kind of like a football team that reigns supreme for 20 years (Miami, FSU, Michigan) then goes dry for many years. Both John Smith AND Kenny Tuesday in 1988 had to defeat former World Champions and/or Olympic Gold medalists just to have an opportunity to compete at the World or Olympic Championships, think about that for a moment. I think the cupboards are relatively bare at the moment but help is on the way in some very young talent who may provide the much needed depth in the coming years until its their time to represent our nation on the World level (Logan Stieber, David Taylor, Brent Metcalf, Jake Varner, Andy Howe, etc...).I also believe most, not all, but most high school and collegiate wrestlers lack 2 of the most basic fundamentals (staying off their knees and keeping their heads up). Next time you are at a tournament, pick out any match and count how many times the 2 wrestlers sit on their knees for more than 2-3 seconds or get caught with their head down. We saw guys at the World Level get caught on their knees for a moment and nearly always paid dearly. Lack of solid fundamentals being taught, shame on coaches.

Coach Gwood,I dont think ANYONE is denied the opportunity in the USA to reach the level you speak of...but, lets NOT FORGET. The USA FS Team were losing to Country's wrestlers whose Country is smaller than the State of Texas. You use Cejudo as an example FINE..yet, he was down in every match he wrestled in Beiijing.I think you and others forget that a price of a gallon of gasoline is $2.75 on average/ 87 oct. quite different that 1984-1988. Who is providing the salary for the wrestler in this DOUBLE QUAD of dedication ??? The USA is very far from the CONSISTENCY that was a given back when. WINNING one medal here and there can not be considered success.The MMA...will earn MORE wrestlers a financial reward - than any color Olympic medal. Im not for "blood sports" yet, Wrestling offers relatively little compensation to it's participants .Maybe, we should take ourr youth and have them swim faster than Michael Phelps if they want an income...lol. The Olympics is for the "sponsors"- and the sale of media....the reward to the Athlete may also be a thing of the past. The Olympic Dream is becoming a "Nightmare" in cost and more importantly at the Wrestler's expense. WHO provide him and his family a "living" ???? When you look at a 50 somethn Randy Lewis - can you FEEL the importance of an Olympic Medal ?? Kids today , cant relate to the "past" the way we invisioned Babe Ruth- Jim Brown- Oscar Robinson....Most kids today feel like "last year" is ANCIENT HISTORY. This is the PC Gen.- "speed" and "plagerism" at it's finest. Look, Im 53- and while my eyes do not see as well as they use too...I still can see the DIFFERENCE in animals...Didnt a 52 yr old Randy Lewis win two matches in a FS Tourney of 20 somethns...lol.

Cary gives a lot of credit to Randy... Cary is also a very intelligent guy and a leader in our sport that understands the situation and has a good handle on the issue. I think if you spoke with our national coaches and athletes the majority would definitely agree with him as well. The money is a tremendous bonus, but most of our athletes have trained and competed for years with money being a non-factor.One other concen I feel often gets overlooked is our lack of exposure to foreign competition. We can continue to wrestle each other and win and lose with the style/s that we have, but the truth is that we need to build our technique and tactical base while wrestling against foreign competition. Tours and other competitions inside and outside our country are critical to develop these tools that we need to win at this level. Though there are many techniques and tactics that are consistent with international styles, many are not.The Europeans have had and continue to have many opportunities to train/compete with each other and grow along with their coaches. This training starts at an early age and is tremendously consistent throughout the lifetime of their wrestlers.Bottom lineI agree with Cary we have to have our athletes training and building the upper-level base and depth of athletes. Maybe money will help this, however I am confident that more international competition at all ages and more of these opportunities would make a positive impact as well.

Not Cary's theory as he repeatedly stated, it's Randy Lewis' theory.

The money makes it easier no doubt. The guys can focus on training instead of worrying about paying their bills. But the MMA movement has devastated international wrestling in a since that the hand full of guys that want that gold medal at all costs like Cary mentions will grind for it no matter how dirt poor they are because its a life long goal and dream. The super talented guy teetering on the dream vs MMA stardome, Ben Askren, Mo Lawal, Johnny Hendricks ect ect can make 100K a year off MMA and endorsements and be a mega star in the process. Unfortunately for the world team it has taken its toll but we still will have the die hards in there grinding for gold and I almost respect that even more when there are more options these days.

Sounds - logical. The handing down of the tradition- passing the torch or actually , taking it away from a former SR FS Champ/ Olympic Medalist. Unfortunately, I think within that 8 yr period the MMA/UFC will have outgrown the Olympic committment. Very DIFFERENT Socialogical /Economical restraints or pressures today to accentuate on going after a "medal". While I understand the intestinal fortitude Kolat is talking about - in this Society -it must get "gut" ugly- and hungry before you see that type of dedication to stay the course without compensation??? How many 28-32 yr old wrestlers in the USA can go without "money"- TODAY isnt 1984/1988....Is it gonna be possible in that double quad of which Kolat is talking about ??? I think the best in the International Styles have "come and gone"...to have the CONSISTENCY that Gable was talking about.

Great perspective. Seems like the problem is identified."It's just finding the guys who are going to do it," is the hurdle.

Words of Wisdom from a guy who has been there. Great Stuff!

Truth in this thread. Another problem is the publicity of Olympic wrestling. People barely see it. Many college wrestlers don't even know where to start training for Olympics. I think it starts earlier. middle school kids watching tv seeing a passionate team of champions will get on board and set goals high. Look at gymnastics, that miracle team in the 90's elevated that sport to where the US is today. Look at swimming, people are enrolling their kids in swimming because Phelps is all over the tube winning the 100 gold medals.If we had some bruisers (I think metcalf, Zad etc) passionately winning some medals on national tv things might change.Hell, Slay's OT victory over that russian was unreal, sends chills down my spine when I watch that.

this is true

Great stuff!