Former Cowboy wrestler Daniel Cormier’s dream of Olympic gold in Beijing ended before it began. Hours before Cormier was scheduled to wrestle in the Olympics, he became ill after his official weigh-in.
He was treated by medical staff at the athletic village, then soon taken to a Beijing hospital. Doctors initially diagnosed him with kidney failure, but he was later determined to be dehydrated.
Cormier has since recovered, but following the advice of doctors and coaches, he decided not to participate in the competition. Had the former OSU wrestler stayed, he would not have needed to wrestle in the qualifying round, and was considered a strong contender for a medal.
He needed three victories to reach the final and would not have met Russian Shirvani Muradov, the favorite for the gold, until the championship bout.
He would have taken the mat at 96 kilograms, but because he had already weighed in, the United States could not enter a replacement at his weight.
Cormier transferred to OSU from Colby Junior College in Kansas. In 2001, he finished second at the NCAA Championships, and graduated later that year with a sociology degree from Oklahoma State.
He has wrestled extensively on the international circuit since 2002.
Since then, Cormier has not lost at the U.S. Nationals. He finished fourth at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and took the bronze at the 2007 World Championships. Also in 2007, he was a Pan American Games bronze medalist.
Cormier still lives in Stillwater, training with Cowboy coach John Smith, who won two Olympic golds as a wrestler.
Joining Cormier in Beijing is fellow OSU alumnus Steve Mocco. who made the 120 kg qualifying round Wednesday night.
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