BEIJING (AP)
Great Falls wrestler Mike Zadick, who lost in the final at the world championships 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 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. "It's been a lifelong dream of mine to wrestle in the Olympics," Zadick said. "I never stopped believing it would happen." Despite his second-place finish in 2006, the same year his brother Bill was a world champion at 66 kg, 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. "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." With the 30-year-old Zadick now in, the United States will have wrestlers at all seven freestyle weight classes. Zadick was third in the 2001 U.S. college championships competing for the University of Iowa and seventh in 2000 and 2002. Zadick and his older brother were Bill were multiple-time Class AA state champions at Great Falls High School.
