Front Page
Ben Askren

Signing off

Well I figured I would wrap up the whole experience, even though I havent wanted to think about it much lately. Then tell you where the future is going to take me. So I lost, I didnt live up to the guarentees I put forth. I have to keep being reminded that making the Olympics in the first place is a great accomplishment. It isn’t the first time I haven’t lived up to a guarantee I put out and it probably wont be the last. When asked a question I will tell you exactly what I think without pulling any punches and I hope you can appreciate that. I always saw the pressure Cael was under and imagined what it would be like, I have no idea of knowing what 159-0 pressure is, but I have gotten to the point in the sport where I have to win everything all the time. This pressure is inflicted by myself, but it can really wear me out, I can understand why Cael wanted to be done.

As far as my future goes I am not sure about it yet, I know two things for sure. I will be going on two vacations in September, they are well needed and deserved. Secondly I will be at the University of Missouri until Max graduates. It is a promise I made him when he came to Mizzou is that I would be there as long as he would. I knew I needed him to reach my pinnacle and I want to do the same for him. He has been a big part of any title run I have made in my life. A lot of people insist I should go elsewhere to train, but I gave him my word and keeping my word is more important than anything tangible could be.

I might fight, I might wrestle, I am not really sure right now. Lets get one thing straight though, MY decision isn’t based on monetary gain, I am doing pretty well for myself wrestling. Sure I am not getting rich, but who does wrestling to get rich? Would my life be easier if I got more than a measley $7,500 stipend from USA wrestling for the whole year for being the #1 guy? Of course it would, but I really dont know if that would translate into me being a better wrestler. I have wanted to fight for a long time and it isn’t because of the money, it is because I think it would be fun and it would be a great challenge. Am I upset because there is a chance I will have a large monetary gain from it? You must be crazy.

So I will drive home to Columbia today, I am so excited to be back, China just wasn’t for me. I hope you appreciate that fact that I share my innermost thoughts with you and you can refrain yourself from childishly deriding what I think. Have a great day, I will.

Ben

Blog

Days are getting boring, competitions coming near

I can see myself getting skinnier when I look in the mirror

When I step on the mat August 20 I’ll be ready to scrap

And it will be the last feather I need to pu tin my cap

Test

So I am very happy because I woke up to the second day of Blue skies in a row, it looks like China’s plan to clear the skies is working at least for now. ALso my parents and my high school coach get in tonight so I am excited for that. Yesterday was a good day, since I am only doing one practice a day now I am really getting to sleep in which is nice. I went and worked out with Max and did a quick Sauna. After that Max, Steele, Shawn, Amy and I took off for the forbidden city. We met up with the Porsche family( my friends from FL) for a quick minute at Tianamen square, there wasn’t much to see here, before heading over to the forbidden city. There were so many people there. Shawn wanted me and him to get our pictures taken in these warriors costumes and I obliged. I started acting like an idiot as soon as I had the gear on and you should have seen the crowd it drew. After nine days here I am convinced the Chinese are very easily amused, especially by foriegners. The forbidden city was the home to emporers for many hundreds of years. It got me thinking how boring it must have been to sit on the throne day after day, I really dont think I could have done it. Shawn says he would have loved it though. Then we headed over to hometown hopefuls for a bit to grab something to eat and we got this awesome spot on the couches. To finish up the night we headed to the bird’s nest for track and field. I got to see fellow former Mizzou Tiger Christian Cantwell get a silver. HE made it on his last throw, it had to be an awesome feeling. I have no plans today and I will probably do a bunch of relaxing.

Ben

Welcome to Ben Askren’s Website

This site is a work in progress, but check back soon for more information on 2008 Olympian Ben Askren.