ZooToday.com is featuring an interview with TNA star Kurt Angle where he talks at length about his chances of making the USA Olympic team in London 2012.
“To be honest I have a very competitive streak in me and the challenge of the Olympics was something that I missed. I also looked at the prospect of competing in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) but the timing was just never right. At one point I had agreed terms with UFC, but we could never come to an arrangement on a start date for me so it never happened. You know what I am really excited about it and this time it will be a lot more fun. I put a lot of pressure on myself last time to make sure I would win. I over-trained and because of that I made a lot of mistakes in my matches and overtraining caused a few injuries. Now that I am a bit older I realise what my body’s limitations are and how to train properly so I don’t overdo it. I’ll be a lot more selective of what I do in my matches as well. I think I can be a better wrestler even at the age of 42. I am going to take it all in and enjoy the whole experience which is something I didn’t do in 1996 because I was in the zone and focused only on one thing.
I definitely think I will be an underdog. I am not going to be one of the guys picked to make the team and definitely not one of the guys picked to win a medal. When I was in the Atlanta Olympics I was already a world champion so there were high expectations when it came for me to perform. A lot of people didn’t know about the broken neck because I simply didn’t want anyone to know about it at the time. I’ll be 43 by the time of the London Olympics next year. It’s kind of like a Rocky Balboa underdog story, because like Rocky if I get to the Olympics I have nothing to lose. One advantage I’ll have is that I’ve been through it all before but for me not having the pressure this time round to win the gold medal will make it a better experience. I can enjoy it this time and enjoy the training. I won’t be in a place where I say ‘Oh gosh I need to go to the gym today’. I can kind of enjoy it and have a passion for it this time.”
Full interview:
Kurt Angle vs ZOO!