With the Olympic Games approaching, the 28-year-old Cormier will soon have to make a decision on whether he will return to the sport and commit another four years. The uncertainty regarding his status after 2008 influenced Cormier to dedicate himself to a new training routine that includes more guidance from coaches as opposed to his past methods. 

“I have to look at this as my last opportunity to win a world medal,” Former Oklahoma State NCAA All-American Cormier said. “Looking ahead, I think I may have not gotten the most out of myself because I always knew there would be another opportunity. But you never know now because nothing is promised next year for the Olympic Games.”

In addition to not knowing if the 2007 World Championships will be his last, Cormier has also been motivated to improve on his 22nd place finish at last year’s tournament.

“Who wants to see that?” Cormier said. “Knowing that 20 something guys were finishing ahead of me showed me I wasn’t getting it done.”

Coaches have specifically been assisting Cormier with staying closer to the 211.5-pound mark that he will be wrestling at. Prior to the last year, Cormier would race to make weight before a competition and would put his eligibility in jeopardy right up until the match.

“These guys [Coaches] know what it takes to be world champions, it shows, they all have multiple world titles,” Cormier said.  “I can’t tell them what it takes for me to become a world champion because I haven’t done it before.”

Three years ago, many wrestlers and coaches within the sport thought Cormier would have his world title by now. At that time, Cormier had just missed out on a medal by placing fourth at the 2004 Olympic Games and also showed great promise with a fifth-place finish at the 2003 World Championships.

However, those immense expectations could be another factor as to why Cormier is still searching for his first title.

“I felt like in 2003 and 2004 there was no pressure on me,” Cormier said. “When you start taking on all that extra pressure it just weighs on you too much. I try to limit all the pressure I put on myself because you are scared to make mistakes and end up loosing out of fear for disappointing somebody.”

Instead of attempting to please the entire wrestling community and deal with the pressure of the expectations that come with it, Cormier has limited it to just two other people. He is focused on winning the World Championship for his daughter who was killed in a car accident in 2003 and his wife.

“If I had to win it for anyone else it would be for her because of the disappointment that she had in 2004,” Cormier said. “Just looking at her after I lost that bronze medal match, I don’t want her to have to go through that again.”

The same man who prevented Cormier from winning a medal at the 2004 Olympic Games is also expected to be standing in the way at the World Championships. Khadjimurad Gatsalov of Russia beat Cormier in overtime in 2004 and eventually went on to win gold at the Games, as well as the World Championship in 2005 and 2006.

“He is the man right now,” Cormier said. “Everyday I train, I have to train to beat him. It has been said that it will be an American to beat him and I am that American.”