Spends first 4-5 years learning Basic Skills and cross training before entering a competition.

Must master the basic skills involved in a technique before learning the technique itself.

Experienced, dedicated, qualified coach that stays with him through his career.

Chess game approach to learning techniques.

Psychological stability stressed and enhanced.

International competition from start. ( Jr World team has an average of 5 majors competitions before the Jr. Worlds)

Once Senior Level Athlete skills are honed, no longer learns basic or even new technique.

First World Title often as early as 20 years of age.

Many stay up to three cycles.

Most involved in age group competition within weeks of first introduction.

Learns techniques before has honed necessary skills.

Multitude of Coaches (most with little experience in early years) throughout his career.

Techniques taught based on successful or unsuccessful applications in competitions.

Psychology seldom if ever comes into play at a professional level.

Most US Athletes never get any experience outside of the USA . Only a select few. (Jr World Team usually has zero competitions as a team before Jr. Worlds.)

At Senior level most are still wrestling Folkstyle and trying freestyle when doesn’t interfere with College career. AT end of college several years are spent learning or relearning skills essential to International Competition.

Most are out of college (23-24 years old) before they even contend for a title.

Unusual to stay more than one Olympic cycle.