BEIJING -- This has been a milestone year for Doug Schwab.

His son was born on Feb. 5.

He was an assistant coach for the Iowa Hawkeyes during their NCAA wrestling championship run in March.

On April 26, he won a U.S. national title.

Less than two months later on June 14, he earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

And to top it off, Schwab married the woman of his dreams six weeks ago.

The Osage native is hoping another dream materializes Wednesday.

If so, he will add an Olympic gold medal to the list.

"He has said he has seen himself 1,000 or more times with the gold medal around his neck and the national anthem playing, and I believe him," said Allyson Schwab, Doug's wife. "I believe that's what I will see when I'm in Beijing."

Travel arrangements to Beijing have not been easy for the Schwabs. Many of those who are Beijing-bound face airfare of approximately $1,500 and lodging prices have increased for the Games.

To offset some of the cost, the Schwabs have been ordering, selling and shipping "Schwab Wrestling, Bring on the World" T-shirts.

Doug's mother, brother, sister and wife are attending the Games.

"We are humbled by the support not only from Iowa, but from around the nation," Allyson said.

Although this is Allyson's first visit to the Olympics, it is not the first time the Games have been at the forefront of her thoughts.

"Playing softball growing up, I watched Dot Richardson and Lisa Fernandez capture gold," said Allyson, a Virginia Tech graduate. "Later on in college, I had the chance to play against Team USA."

Competing in the Olympics may have been a dream for Allyson, but for Doug's brother, Mark, it seemed inevitable.

He was ranked No. 1 in the United States at 114.5 pounds at one time in his wrestling career. He received the bronze medal at the 1987 World Cup and placed third at the Tbilisi tournament in Russia. Mark came as close as training for the 1988 U.S. Olympic team before his career was derailed by knee problems and a severe staph infection.

"I call him every day," Mark said. "Sometimes we just talk about Jimi Hendrix, but we have been talking about this moment or moments like this for years."

Mark plays an active role preparing his younger brother for the Games, but he recognizes that Doug has the best wrestling staff in the world supporting him.

Most preparation entails studying the competition.

"The Cuban is an incredible athlete, and I would say he is the guy who would give Doug the most trouble," Mark said. "The Russian, Turk and Georgian are all past medalists and world champions, but there are so many other capable athletes."

Added Doug: "There are only 20 guys in my weight class, and I've wrestled six or eight of them and watched video on the rest. I want to make the other guy wrestle my style. I want to impose my will on them."

Doug earned his spot on the team in Las Vegas, battling through the deepest weight class in the country, including defeating fellow Hawkeye Bill Zadick -- a 2006 World Champion.

"Doug may not have as much experience as some of his competitors, so he is not considered a medal favorite, but he is a medal threat," Mark said. "I have noticed another level of focus in him the past three months."