NCAA and US Nationals Champ, Univ. of TN- Chattanooga Head Coach
2001, 2002, and 2005 Freestyle World Team Member
2004 Olympic Trip to Athens
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I'll be posting journal entries and photos of my trip and the US Freestyle Wrestling Team
here!
Friday, 08/13/04 7:41 PM Athens Time
It is extremely hot, and in the mid 90's even now around 7:30 PM local time. The Olympic
Team members are all at the opening ceremonies.
We got here and a rep from the USOC picked us up and brought us to our hotel. The complex
where the guys are training is great- actually, perfect. We're at the American College of
Greece in a suburb of Athens. They have a cafeteria on the complex where tonight they are
serving steak and shrimp.
Coach D and I are exhausted from the journey and looking for a good night's rest. We were
supposed to have practice at 9 PM, but the team does not get back until 3 AM from the
ceremonies, so I am sure we will push the practice back. I have not seen Cael yet, but
everyone here says he is good spirits and ready to get rolling.
Security is all over the the college grounds, which is good. We always have to show
credentials and get our bags searched every place we go. Armed soldiers are all around.
This should be fun. At our first chance Coach D and I are going to try to see some of the
historical sites in the area. I will try to get pictures.
Hope everyone back home is doing well. More later- Chris.
Saturday, 08/14/04 7:07 PM Athens Time
The workout plan for the evening was left to each ayhlete. Some guys drilled, while others
ran, lifted or just got a good sweat in. I went for a run in the evening with assistant
coach Tom Brands.
Coach Douglas and I are going to watch the USA Women's USA volleyball team play tonight
against China, and then to boxing tomorrow night. We can attend any event we want for free
a slong as an Olympian sign us up. Pretty cool. We both plan on going to Mount Olympus on
Tuesday for some sightseeing. It is a scheduled off day for the team.
Coach Douglas said to say he's having a good time, but can't wait until competition begins.
Hope all is well back home.
Saturday, 08/15/04 8:37 PM Athens Time
We made it to the volleyball game last night I wrote about yesterday. It was quite an
experience just getting there. We had to walk about a mile to catch a bus, then take a
subway, then a tram to the arena. The whole thing took over an hour. There were guards
everywhere with guns. It was pretty scary, but all went well. USA lost, but it is fun
to be there and experience another Olympic event beside wrestling.
I don't think I mentioned this earlier, but the American College campus is reserved exclusively
for USA Wrestling- athletes, coaches, trainers, etc. It's all ours, with security everywhere.
There is heavy screening just to enter the grounds using our credential badges. It's a very
safe environment.
It was a bad night (or I should mention, early morning) for me, as I woke up at 3 AM and
couldn't get back to sleep. My body has not been able to adapt well to the 8 hour time zone
change yet from back in Iowa. I went to the lobby to read and must have inhaled about two
packs of second-hand smoke from the guards who were on duty. Everyone smokes over here.
Today was quite an experience, as the media was on-campus to watch a practice of the USA
women's b-ball team. I was fascinated watching Dino, a bomb-sniffing dog, do his thing
searching all their equipment. This dog was great! I hung out with Dino and the agents
afterwards. The dog was unbelievable.
As for the weather, it was overcast today and only reached around 85. Quite comfortable
compared compared to previous days.
We have tickets to basketball, boxing, and weight-lifting tonight. I hope to go to one of
them, but we will see. Workouts are scheduled for 9 AM and 4 PM again tomorrow.
Until tomorrow- Chris
P.S.- To any basketball fans out there, we saw Diana Tirasi today who was very friendly!
P.P.S.- My journal will also be online at
Monday, 08/16/04 9:20 PM Athens Time
They have food, a bunch of televisions and an Internet cafe. Tomorrow (Tuesday) there are no
workouts, so the whole team got on the metro and came down here to eat.
We worked out today at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. It was kind of a tough practice for the team
because Tuesday is an off day. Like I said before, we are heading to see some sites and
get to know the wrestling venue. I'm really surprised how far apart the venues are. I think
it's a 40-minute bus ride from the wrestling venue.
Practice got over really late yesterday (Sunday), so I did not go to any events. Most of
the guys showed up at halftime of the men's basketball game, which we lost to Puerto Rico.
I have tickets to beach volleyball tomorrow. USA Wrestling National Teams coach (and former
Iowa State All-American and 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist) Kevin Jackson is sitting right here.
He is really excited about the way the guys have been training. They have been adjusting
at a rapid pace.
(Iowa State head coach and Olympic coach Bobby) Douglas is as intense as ever and is
pushing the guys. His favorite quote is, "This is where you win the gold medal" as he is
pushing the athletes. As for Cael (Sanderson -- former undefeated Iowa State four-time NCAA
champion), he is in great sprits and being himself, training hard. He is focused and ready
to win.
Today it was back to being really hot, no clouds and no breeze. Tomorrow we have tickets
to beach volleyball.
Email me with any questions about the team or anything you would like to know at
bono145@aol.com.
Till tomorrow.
Sanderson just sat next to me and wants to tell everyone hi and thanks for following him
and Go Cyclones!! Typical Cael.
Tuesday, 08/17/04 4:22 PM Athens Time
We were going to see the sites today, but because it is so hot, most the guys did not want
to walk around. I believe Coach Douglas did go and check out the Parthenon. I will give you
his accounts tomorrow.
After dinner last night I walked around the city and saw the Parthenon and all the ancient
buildings. It was pretty cool because it was all lit up, but there were a million people
walking around. The narrow streets were jam packed with people. Also, there were about
a million shops, with most of the stores were selling junk. I did not look around too much,
as I just wanted to find where the metro picked us up and go home. I never did find it, so
we jumped in a taxi.
That brings me to another point. You have to be real careful with the drivers here. They
try to rip you off so bad. Now we know and we call them out on it and they say "OK." OK!
I think Cael, Cody (his brother}, and Tim Hartung went to an island today to relax. Some
of the other team members who are sponsored by Adidas went to the big Adidas location.
They said there was food and some clothes and said it was pretty nice.
As for me, I just got in the sauna, and plan to go to the beach volley match. As you can
tell, the guys were off today, and will be back on the mat tomorrow. It is one day closer
to the tournament.
I did get a bunch of emails from people who are reading this journal, and to all, thanks for
the support and encouraging comments. It is great to be an American and a Cyclone!
Chris
Wednesday, 08/18/04 6:20 PM Athens Time
These are the accounts of Coach Douglas when he went to the Parthenon on the 17th.
I have been to the mountain top. I spent one of the most exciting days of my life at the
Parthenon. I dreamt of this journey so many times, it felt like have been there before. As
a young wrestler, when I set my sights on winning the Olympics, I studied the history of
the Greeks. I was excited the morning we started this journey. I had a feeling of deja vu.
We started at the Park Hotel. Coach Hatta, Brands and Duroe caught a ten o'clock bus to the
Metro to the Plaka, which is major shopping center. The journey lasted until five o'clock.
It was emotionally draining and physically tiring. Once we were at the top, we spent an hour
looking through the museum and taking photos.
As I looked out at the temple of Zeus, it was like I was a little kid. There was so much
excitement and emotions. I had no idea this place would impact me like this. I kept feeling
like I had been here before, and then I realized that I had. I had been here in my dreams
so many times before. It stirred something inside me.
I was walking on the same ground as Plato, Socrates and Aristotle. I was where the Gods
were born, where Zeus and the Titans played at their favorite pastime {wrestling}. I
was at the home of the wrestlers.
There is something magic about the Olympics; the atmosphere it creates cannot be described.
People from all over the world gathering in the spirit of the highest level of competition
between the most bitter of rivals. At the same time, you see the greatest sportsmanship and
compassion. The Greek people have opened their arms to the world, and the world has come
back to the home of the Olympics. The athletes compete in the spirit of the oath to be a
part of the greatest show of the Earth.
It sends chills down my spine just knowing that I am here. It is like stepping back into
history, to the time when the Olympics brought peace and meant peace, when wars stopped
and it was a sentenced of death to anyone who interfered with an athlete on his way to
the Games. Wars stopped, feuds stopped and the Olympics became the symbol of peace.
I thought of all those things when I looked down from the Parthenon. My mind raced back
into history as I remembered The Iliad. I remembered Homer, I remembered Zeus, I
remembered the Titans. The Olympians- Apollo, Areas. I felt a great pride that I was
a wrestler. I felt a great pride that I was an American and I felt so fortunate to have
these great experiences.
Tom Brands, Mike Duroe, and Tadakki Hatta all shared this experience with me and agreed
this was something special. This for me was God's way of remaining anonymous. My dreams
had come true. The only bad thing is that I had to go back to that cold room and fight
with Tom Brands over the air conditioning. I had hidden the remote control, but he found
it and I know it will be a cold night tonight. GO CYCLONES!!!!!
Bobby
Thursday, 08/19/04 12:44 PM Athens Time
Yesterday the team worked out at 9 AM. Most guys just drilled.
Joe Williams worked hard in the areas the coaching staff has been adressing with him. He
then came back at 4 PM for a good run, lift and sauna. Joe is in high spirits and getting
focused. This moring Joe was put through an intense individual workout by Tom Brands. Zach
Espozito and I were rotating on him. It was the best Joe has ever felt. He is crisp and
powerful.
Cael also got some real good work in yesterday. He was put through a tough workout by Kevin
Jackson. It was in all the areas he needed and he got some live situation goes in. He looked
sharp. He also came back for a run and lift in the afternoon.
Most of the guys have been laying low and not going to many events, but hanging around the
hotel. Kevin Jackson and I went to beach volleyball the other day. First of all, the venue
is one of the best venues I have ever seen. I watched our men lose and our women win. We sat
right behind the family of the men. And you could not have met a prouder set of parents. Win
or lose, they were just so fired up that their son was in the Games.
This afternoon the workout is at 4:15. I think it is the last team workout. The rest will
be all individual needs and wants.
Last night coach Douglas and I went to dinner. We had to walk about 2 miles. It was good to
spend time with Coach alone and talk about the Cyclones and the upcoming season. It felt
like we were back home, planning out what our guys need to work on, and how we were going
to get some young guns on the USA team some day. Overall it was a great dinner. The walk
home was a little too much, so we caught a cab.
Till tommorrow- Chris
Friday, 08/20/04 7:14 PM Athens Time
Wow! Today it was so hot, I could barely take it. It does cool down a bunch at night,
so there is some relief at night.
Today I was in the sauna after a workout and Rulon Garder came in. He told me he has a
sister that lives in Des Moines and he told me to tell the state of Iowa thanks for all
the support!
Also, thanks for all the emails. I get hundreds daily. I try to answer as many as I can.
Today I will answer some of the most common questions I get.
When does Cael wrestle?
What events have you been to?
What is your role in Athens?
Have you seen anyone famous?
As for the training, the guys were off this morning. In the afternoon, they drilled and
wrestled one match with an overtime. (Cael did 2 matches.) I wrestled with Joe and he felt
great. Cael looked real good to!
Tomorrow is an off day. Coach Douglas wants to go to Olympia, but it is 200 miles away, so
if he makes all the plans, I will tag along. If not, we will head to the Asics booth where
we will see the new gear for 2005. Asics sponsors the ISU wrestling team as well as myself,
Joe , and Cael.
Well, that is about it for today. I feel sorry for Coach Douglas. I know the AC (air
conditioning) will be on tonight!
Till tomorrow. Keep the emails coming.
Chris
Today is August 21st. The team had the day off today. I got up and went for a run around
the track. After a couple of laps, Marion Jones came out and started to run. I asked her
if she wanted to race, but she declined. Just joking, but she really was running.
The heat was so intense today. I bet it had to be around 100 degrees. A group of us
including coach Douglas, Cael and Joe Williams and myself went to the Asics House today.
It was pretty neat, and we did get some clothes and gifts. They had lunch and drinks
for us.
The only problem we had was getting home. It seemed no taxis wanted us in their cab.
"Americans," they kept saying, and would drive away. Oh well, we made it home.
Cael, Joe, and Eric Guerrero just got down a sauna workout and are getting ready to eat.
I don't have much to report today, but tomorrow we have practice again. Also our USA women
weighed in today and start wrestling tomorrow. It's the first time women's wrestling is in
the Olympics.
All the guys are still in high spirits. It's almost time!
Chris
MOnday, 08/23/04 5:55 PM Athens Time
Today is Monday, August 23rd. Sorry I did not write yesterday, we were pushed for time all
day and I could not get to the computer.
Today was a great day for training. We were going to workout at 9:30, but two of our
girl wrestlers were in the semi-finals so we went to a room on this campus where they
have a live feed from every venue and watched their matches. One won and one lost.
We then worked out, went to the sauna and ate. Before I knew it, it was 4 PM and back
to the gym. It was a good workout and the team seems ready. We are now going to get
some sandwiches and watch the bronze and gold medal matches in that room with the live
feed before heading back to the hotel.
On a sad note, there is a route that Coach Douglas takes every day from the hotel to the
gym. There was always one dog who would walk with him and hang out with him. Yesterday
morning we found him dead in the middle of the road. Coach Douglas was kind of hurt.
It is still real hot here, Our hotel lobby never puts the air on and that is were everyone
usually hangs out. I bet it was at least 95 degrees in there yesterday, It was awful.
Tomorrow Greco-Roman starts. I hope to get over to the venue to watch Dennis Hall and
Rulon Gardner. Tomorrow the team also moves from the hotel to the Athletes Village.
Cael and Joe are doing real well and can't wait to get on the mat.
On a good note, last night we found a Pizza Hut and a great dinner.
Hope all is well back home. I can't wait to get back!
Chris
Tuesday, 08/24/04 1:19 PM Athens Time
I just got done with practice and lunch. Most of the guys got on the mat for a quick drill
and light wrestling.
Today the team moves to the village. Some did not really want to go, but after last night,
I think they all want to go. The reason is that the women's team is done and their whole
delegation is gone and the Greco team is out of the hotel and all the US family and friends
are moving into the hotel.
So, last night the lobby (our local hangout) was getting a little bit uncomfortable for
the guys. Everyone wanted things signed and wanted to talk. Security was checking
everyone's bags and things like that. I think they all want to get back to being with
themselves and staying focused.
Limit the distractions until after the competition. Don't get me wrong, the guys love the
fans and all the people who came over, but they do have job to do. I think everyone back
home should expect big things from these guys. All of them are healthy, loose, and have
followed everything the coaches have told them. They have been sticking the plan. It is
almost time!
I personall have not been doing much of anything but wrestling and sitting in the lobby.
I do not like to get out because it is an hour to do anything and then we have practice,
so it is always a hassle.
Coach Douglas is fired up and ready to go. It is great to see the respect all the coaches
and athletes have for Coach D (as the guys call him). It is even better to see the odd
couple (Coach D and Tom Brands) hanging out.
That is about it from here! See ya!
Chris
Wednesday, 08/25/04 1:34 PM Athens Time
I was walking across the track today after our workout and sauna and I saw a bunch of cameras
and TV people there. I went over to see what was going on and it was Katie Couric taping a
segment. She was running the hurdles. They were lowered, but she got over them.
Everything is going well here in Athens. Rulon just got beat this morning in the
semi-finals. It happened right in the middle of our workout and was kind of a let down.
Weigh-ins are tomorrow for Abbas, Kelly, Sanderson, and McCoy. Then they start wrestling at
9:30 AM on the 27th (Friday).
All the families are starting to roll in now. I saw Abbas's family, McCoy's, Joe Williams,
and the Sandersons are all here as well. It is good because the guys seem to get a little
pick me up when they see them.
It has been a real long time over here, 20 some odd days in a foreign land away from your
loves ones is real hard, for any man. I can only imagine what our troops are going through.
It has been real hard on me. I miss my wife and kids so much. The only good thing I have is
this computer where my wife sends me emails and pictures of my babies. I can't wait to start
the tourny and get home. We are on the first flight out of Athens after the tourny is over.
I will get the draws, brackets, pools or whatever you want to call them and try to comment
on them before they start. It might be hard time wise, but I will try. Other than that
the guys are now losing the last 8 to 10 lbs and getting ready. All the work is done, it
now is about weight control and rest...then gold medals.
Chris
P.S.- It has not been any cooler, still 95+ and I have not seen a drop of rain.
Thursday, 08/26/04 8:47 PM Athens Time
 USA Freestyle Team and coaches from Zeke Jones' web site Olympians (front): Cael Sanderson (84 kg), Stephen Abas (55 kg), Eric Guerrero (60 kg), Jamill Kelly (66 kg), Joe Williams (74 kg), Daniel Cormier (96 kg), Kerry McCoy (120 kg) Coaching staff (back): Bobby Douglas, Zeke Jones, Tom Brands, Sergei Beloglazov, Dave Bennett, Kevin Jackson Hello! The first group of guys weighed in today and know who their opponents are. Cael will have a bye in the first round and then around 11 AM local Athens time Friday he will wrestle a guy from Kazakastian (Magomed Kurguliev). He wrestled this guy in Russia in January and beat him 3-2 in OT. A pretty tough first round, but Cael is much better now than he was in January. At about 12:30 PM local Athens time he will wrestle a guy from Belarus (Siarhei Borchanka). I do not know much about this guy, but he is from a Russian republic and could be pretty good. The good thing about his draw is those two guys will wrestle first, and we can scout and video tape them before Cael has to wrestle them. If he wins, he will most likely wrestle the guy from Iran in the 1/4 finals at 6 PM local Athens time.
Here is what his pool looks like:
Those are the names and country's of Cael's first opponents. It is now time, Wish him luck as well as the rest of the team. I will update with results as soon as I can. Tomorrow, the second group of guys weigh in, including Joe Williams. See ya- Chris
Friday, 08/27/04 9:54 PM Athens Time
What an unbelievable day! The US team won 9 out of 10 matches today and advanced 3 out of 4
guys to the semi-finals tomorrow.
Cael won 3 of his matches today and will face Romero from Cuba tomorrow. Cael has never
beaten this guy. Sanderson won his first match 4 - 2 (Magomed Kurguliev- Kazakhstan),
then he won 9-1 (Siarhei Borchanka- Belarus). His last match he won in OT against a guy
from Iran 6-5 (Majid Khodaei- Iran). The guy from Iran was so exhausted he could barely
walk. Cael was real fired up, pumping his fist after the match. He has looked real good,
and his shape is just like the college days.
Joe Williams weighed in today and has Georgia in his pool as well as Iran.
The updates will be coming this late from now on because I am at the venue all day.
I am now back at the College of Greece and Cael's wife just walk in. This is from her:
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 Abas vs. Zhengyu (China) 55 kg copyright- Associated Press |
 Kelly vs. Asgarov (Azerbaijan) 66 kg copyright- Associated Press |
 Sanderson vs. Khodaei (Iran) 66 kg copyright- Reuters |
 McCoy vs. Mutalimov (Kazakhstan) 120 kg copyright- Associated Press |
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Advancing to the Semi-Finals: Stephen Abas (55 kg), Jamill Kelly (66 kg), Cael Sanderson (84 kg)
Saturday, 08/28/04 8:00 PM Athens Time |
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Sanderson wins GOLD!
Abas and Kelly get SILVER! Cormier and Wiliams advance. More to follow... |
copyright USA Today |
 Sanderson and his Gold copyright- Reuters |
 Abas and the Silver copyright- Associated Press |
 Kelly and the Silver copyright- Associated Press |