One Final Push
World champion Dremiel Byers set for one more run at Olympic gold
By Tim Hipps W
ith the 2012 Olympic Games looming over the horizon, U.S. Army Greco-Roman heavyweight wrestler Dremiel Byers is more determined than ever to win an Olympic gold medal. "I've been No. 1 in the World," said Byers, the only U.S. Greco-Roman wrestler to win gold, silver and bronze medals at the World Championships. "I need to be No. 1 in the World when the World is watching. The Olympic Games is that stage and that venue, and that's what I'm doing this for." Byers won his ninth U.S. Open title in April and will be the No. 1 seed for the U.S. World Team Trials in June. Byers, who wrestles at 264.5 pounds and normally walks around at about 286, knows a lot of hard work awaits him on the road to London. Following the 2010 World Championships, Byers took his longest break from wrestling training in six years to further his Army education. "After the World Championships in September, I went to SLC [Senior Leadership Course] at Fort Lee, Va., and knocked out some career development training," he explained. "After that, I went down to Georgia with my team and did an intensive train- ing camp so we could get right and ready going into this upcom- ing year - because, really, it's the Olympic year right now. "I just walked off the mat in Beijing in 2008, but it feels like yesterday," added Byers, 36, who will be 38 if and when he competes in London. "It came real quick and I'm going to be ready for it. I've got this weight on, but this weight is just from taking a little time off for school.
"I got to be around my peers. I'm charged up. I feel great. I see what they're doing, and they're pushing me on. I feel their support and I just want to win. I want to commit to this as much as I've ever committed - just drive on and get it done." Byers, who used to wage battles royale on the mat with 2000 Olympic gold medalist and "The Biggest Loser" television con- testant Rulon Gardner, was not concerned about tilting the scales to 306 pounds in early January. "I can always get the weight off if my body will do what it needs to do," Byers said. "I've had some tough rounds and bouts with the weight, but working with a nutritionist, I needed that, and what she taught me. And mind you, I took a break. I took a good break and gave my body a chance to heal while I was in school. I haven't taken a break like this since 2004. "I'm charged up. I'm ready to get after it. I'm going to train as hard as I can, and I'm going to chase everybody who placed higher than me at the World Championships." Byers finished fifth at the 2010 World Championships in Moscow, Russia, site of his gold-medal performance in the 2002 World Championships.
"I had a bad run there," Byers said. "I messed up and didn't 18 USA Wrestler
2008 U.S. Olympian Dremiel Byers owns World gold, silver and bronze medals in Greco-Roman wrestling. He helped lead the U.S. to the team title at the 2007 World Championships. Larry Slater photo.
do the things I needed to do. But I've been down before, so I know how to pick myself up. I know. And I know that people are counting on me, so I've got to go wrestle." U.S. Army wrestling coach Shon Lewis has faith in Byers. "He knows these are the last 15 or 16 months of his wrestling
career," Lewis said, "so we're just trying to rededicate ourselves and refocus. He hasn't taken a break like this from wrestling year-round at a world-class level. I'm sure that he can get it done. He just has to be disciplined about it because he's getting a little older now."
For Byers, it seems difficult to fathom that his on-mat career is winding down.
"I truly appreciate the Army World Class Athlete Program for giving me the opportunity to compete and this life that I have," he said. "I can't believe it sometimes. I sit back and think about all of the places that I've gone and think about the people that I've been around, the other Olympians and athletes and coach- es. They have in some way helped me build my character or who I am, and I'm truly grateful." Byers likely will leave his boots on the mat in London – the traditional way wrestlers signal retirement.
Continued on page 19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44