Zadick added to Team USA roster
By the Associated Press
Posted Sunday, August 17, 2008 4:45 AM ET
BEIJING (AP) -
Mike Zadick, a world runner-up two years ago for the United States, was a late addition to the Olympic 60-klilogram freestyle wrestling field Sunday when Bulgaria turned down its qualified spot because of an injury.
Zadick, a former three-time NCAA placewinner at Iowa, has been training with the U.S. team at Beijing Normal University for several weeks in hopes a spot would open. He will wrestle Tuesday.
"We have been in serious training, if this opportunity became available," USA Wrestling executive director Rich Bender said. "We are excited for him and have confidence in his ability to perform well at the Olympic Games."
Despite his second-place finish in 2006, the same year his brother Bill was a world champion, Zadick and one other wrestler did not place high enough in several world-level qualification tournaments for the United States to initially get into the Beijing field.
When the 60-kg opening occurred, USA Wrestling petitioned world governing body FILA for Zadick's inclusion.
With Zadick, 30,of Great Falls, Mont., now in, the United States will have wrestlers at all seven freestyle weights. Zadick won the U.S. trials in June, which were held at his weight class in case a spot opened.
Bill Zadick who lost in the U.S. trials at 66 kg.
Mike Zadick was third in the 2001 NCAA tournament.