By Jonathan M. Alexander
The News & Observer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The 60 kilogram semifinal wrestling match in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London still weighs on Coleman Scott, who was the recipient of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004. More than 90 members of his family there, cheering him on, expecting him to win.

But that win didn’t happen. The USA Olympic wrestler lost in a narrow decision to the eventual champion Toghrul Asgarov from Azerbaijan and missed out on a chance to fulfill a dream he’s had since he was 10: to win gold.

Scott left those Olympic games with a bronze instead, but that wasn’t enough for him.

Almost four years later, Scott, the 125-pound, first-year wrestling coach at North Carolina, says that match still lingers in his mind.

“Every day,” Scott said, nodding his head with an intent look on his face. “Every day.”

When he’s lying down. When he’s training. When he’s watching film. He can’t erase the image of himself sitting up on his knees after losing while his opponent is jumping into his coach’s arms.
He thinks about it at some point every day.

“What I could have done, what I should have done,” he said. “It bothers me. I get very angry just watching it. Just because I was that close. Or at least I felt like I was.”

He wants it to burn. And he uses that for motivation as he prepares for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

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