Two-time Pan American Judo champion Ryan Reser took a break earlier this week to answer 10 questions about life in the village, international apparel and steakhouses. Two-time Pan American Judo champion Ryan Reser took a break earlier this week to answer 10 questions about life in the village, international apparel and steakhouses. Ryan will compete in the 73kg division on Saturday. Then he's going to get a steak...



Q: So this is your first time living in an athlete village. What's been the best part?

A: I think the best part is being in the two buildings with the Americans from all the other teams. It's interesting to see everybody from all the different sports and you get a different perspective on how everyone else's experience has been. And it's kind of cool because you don't know half these people and everybody says hi and everybody's walking around asking "Oh, when do you fight? Really? Oh yeah we'll have to try and come watch."

Q: Are you going to get a chance to see other sports?

A: I think we're going to try and watch girls' soccer, but that stuff always depends on your schedule. I'd really like to try though, because that's just as much a part of the Games experience as actually competing.

Q: Have you checked out everybody else's clothes? Anything you want?

A: Obviously, Brazil 's popular, being the home country and all, but I think ours is pretty high on the list of nice stuff. I wouldn't mind trading for another sport though, like a soccer jersey or something.

Q: Have you talked to your family much since you got here?

A: I have. Mostly over e-mail though. Then there's the regular system of calling cards. They gave us $35 on our phones to call with and that was great, but we didn't really know how fast we'd go through that, so I just put some more minutes on and went through those too. (laughs). Having the cell phones, though, has made it really easy to communicate with everybody.

Q: Are you nervous about competing on Saturday?

A: I am nervous. Not so much nervous as just overwhelmed with processing and the village and all the stuff that comes along with the Games. I was at the last Olympics as a training partner, but I didn't experience all of it and everything that is part of the Olympics. I've heard some people have had issues with how loud the crowds are and everything, but it's been good to talk to the other athletes and hear how things have gone for them before we fight. The other thing is it's just a tougher tournament. There are less guys and they're tougher matches. Obviously this one's double points, so there's more at stake than the other Olympic qualifiers.

Q: So the day you compete. What do you do the morning you fight?

A: I don't really have any rituals. I do a warm-up that we've been working on back home. Not really working on, but just one that we've put together and done a lot, so I'll do that. And then I just remind myself that I've put in the work for this 'cause it's too late to really do much of anything at that point so you just have to trust yourself that you've cut weight right and trained and done everything else properly and if you win you win and if you lose you lose.

Q: Who do you think your toughest competition will be?

A: I can't really name one toughest guy. The Brazilian was third at the Olympics. Cuba's placed at a couple World Cups. Tritton from Canada . Really any of 11 guys could win it all.

Q: What's the first thing you eat after you weigh in?

A: Normally anything I can get my hands on. If I have a choice, bread, carbs, eggs. Whatever food will give me the most energy possible and obviously water if I need to rehydrate.

Q: Whom would you call first if you win?

A: That'd be mom and dad. My parents are obviously really involved and always waiting to see how I did and sometimes by the time I call they've already seen it somewhere. My dad gets the most excited. But they're always willing to help with anything. Watching videos, financial help, moral support, anything, so I always try to call them as soon as I can. But the girlfriend comes a close second when I make the calls! (laughs)

Q: Is there anything you want to see in Brazil before you leave?

A: I really wanted to see Christ the Redeemer. That and Sugarloaf and we saw both Monday, which was awesome. Other than that, hitting one of those Brazilian steak places is always up on the list!

- USA Judo