Imagine if you trained most of your life for a chance at the Olympics. Finally after a life a sweat and tears, you win your weight class in the USA Olympic Wrestling trials last weekend in Las Vegas. You are the best wrestler in your weight class for the United States of America in 2008. In 2006, you were second best in the whole world.

A few days later after winning your weight class, you find out that international governing body granted seven wild-card spots to China. You were not selected.

That’s what happened to Great Falls native Mike Zadick – a three-time all American when he wrestled for Iowa. Zadick was also a four-time state champion in Montana. He and his brother, Bill, are wrestling royalty in Montana. Bill finished second in the Olympic trials in his weight class.

According to reports:

USA Wrestling’s attempt to petition 132-pound freestyle wrestler Mike Zadick’s way into the Olympic games apparently failed Monday when the sport’s international governing body granted seven wild-card spots to China. Zadick was a silver medalist in the 2006 world championships but, based on recent performances that included several failed attempts this year in international qualifiers, the United States did not qualify for Beijing at Zadick’s weight. Team USA qualified in all four weight classes in women’s wrestling and six of seven weights in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, but missed out at 132 pounds in both Greco-Roman and freestyle.

It’s a sad day for the Olympics when someone of Zadick’s caliber is excluded from competing on the greatest stage. Hopefully the leaders of the international governing body will rethink this move and understand that Zadick’s weight class will be significantly weaker if he’s not allowed to compete.