I guess the blog didn't make its' point very well, did it?

Ok, now after I read the blog I understand that what you meant is that they have dedicated their whole life to wrestling, not just NCAAs or the Olympics, but wrestling in general.

Originally Posted by gg121and2

I guess the blog didn't make its' point very well, did it?

I got it and liked your blog as always.
The point is that these guys have been sacrificing their whole life for wrestling and the ultimate goal in our sport is Olympic Gold.
They have been training to become the best, which again is measured by Olympic Gold.
Cael and others have called winning gold their lifelong dream.

i didnt mean to come off like a troll. i also thought the blog was great and inspirational.

Originally Posted by ideamark

Different wrestlers have different "ultimate" goals. For some, it's a state title... because, after high school, they know they'll never wrestle competitively again for whatever reason. For others, the pinnacle is an NCAA title... because, after college, they're hanging up the headgear for a business career (or maybe MMA or WWE ;-). For a much more select, elite group of men and women, they can continue that dream all the way to vying for a place on an Olympic team.

Now, to take this in a slightly different -- but hopefully still appropriate -- direction...

Once that lifetime of training pays off with a disk of precious metal in the form of an Olympic medal... then what's the ultimate goal? And... why is it that so many wrestling fans aren't satisfied when a wrestler earns "just one"? If I had a dollar for every post wondering why Cael or Brandon Slay or whoever stopped at one, well, I could buy every one a round at the next TWT reunion next March in St Louis. Why are we fans not content a great athlete earning a gold medal, to the point where we use the phrase "He has just one"? To my way of thinking, it's better to have won one and leave the mat on top, than for that wrestler to make a comeback years later and look foolish doing it. After all, it seems most of us are remembered for what we did most recently, not necessarily our greatest accomplishments.

As always, Jim, a very thoughtful, well-written essay.
Mark

My answer is that I am not satisfied with Cael's retirement is because he was a US wrestler who was the best in the world which we are in short supply these days and I loved watching him wrestle.
I don't hold it against him personally as I know he did what was best for himself, it is disappointing that we are never going to see him ankle-picking the best in the world ever again.