20 QUESTIONS WITH... Sam Hazewinkel
Veteran Sam Hazewinkel turned in a breakthrough perform- ance to make the U.S. Olympic Team. Hazewinkel, second in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Greco-Roman wrestling, won the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in freestyle at 55 kg/121 lbs. on April 22 in Iowa City. Hazewinkel, 29, defeated Nick Simmons in the finals of the
Trials. Simmons won the first match before Hazewinkel bounced back to win next two to earn a trip to this summer’s Olympic Games in London, England.
Simmons beat Hazewinkel in the finals of the 2011 U.S. World
Team Trials and went on to place fifth at the World Championships. Hazewinkel’s father, Dave, and uncle, Jim, both competed in the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games as members of the U.S. Greco-Roman team.
Dave and Sam Hazewinkel are the first father and son to make U.S. Olympic Teams in wrestling. Hazewinkel, a four-time All-American at the University of Oklahoma, took time out of his busy schedule to answer 20 questions for USA Wrestler. 1. Favorite movie? Dumb and Dumber 2. Favorite TV show? Big Bang Theory
3. What kind of music do you listen to in your iPod before you compete?
At the moment, it is Switchfoot
4. Favorite food when not watching your weight? Pizza
5. Favorite sport other than wrestling? Disc golf
6. Favorite athlete to watch in another sport? Adrian Peterson
7. Favorite wrestler and why? My dad, for obvious reasons.
8. Best piece of advice you've received? Keep your head in the game, physically and mentally. 9. What kind of advice would you give a younger wrestler who is just taking up the sport?
Have fun and outtrain your teammates, and you will do fine. 10. Best moment as a wrestler so far? Making the Olympic Team. 11. Name three people you would love to invite to dinner? My wife, my brother and Jesus. 12. What is one thing you are afraid of? My wife, ha ha.
13. How did you become involved in wrestling? I was born into it.
14. What do you like best about training in Oklahoma? There is so much, the biggest thing is probably the family atmosphere there and the great coaching.
15. What is one thing about you most people don’t know? My Haze charm is located in the knot in the back of my head. 16. Any idea of what you will do after your competitive career is over?
Go pro in disc golf! What can I say, I’m an athlete...I don’t want to get a real job. 17. What do you do to pass the time during a long road
Sam Hazewinkel won the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in freestyle wrestling after placing second in Greco-Roman at the 2008 Olympic Trials. Tony Rotundo photo.
trip? I read a lot!
18. Coolest place you've traveled to and why? I really enjoy Cuba, but the best I have been to is the trip I took to the Grand Canyon with my wife. You just can’t under- stand until you have been there.
19. What does it mean to make the 2012 Olympic Team? It’s a dream become reality. I don’t think we have the word in English to explain it so I made one up. Blessamistic - it is the state of total engagement of all of one’s emotions due to an overabundance of blessings. Really though, with my dad mak- ing the team 40 years ago, and with so many failed attempts it really is impossible to explain how that feels and what it means. 20. Funniest guy on the team and why? Tervel Dlagnev. The guy just cracks me up - he is always jok- ing around. There is no doubt he has the Joy of the Lord around him at all times.
21 USA Wrestler
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