Ben Askren was predicting gold in 74kg freestyle wrestling, which is nothing unsusual. He always projects an extremely confident attitude.
But the reality is that wrestling at this level is as much about experience as it is strength, preparation and techinique. Askren did not match up well to Cuba's Ivan Fundora, losing 3-1, 4-0.
Wrestlers such as Fundora and two-time Olympic champ Buvaysa Saytiev have many more years' experience at the international level than Askren does.
Askren's loss really wasn't such a big surprise, and it points out the brutal nature of the sport - two weeks of preparing in China for Askren, and then his Olympic competition was over in about an hour.
Afterward was one of those times it's difficult to be a sportswriter. Askren was sobbing, barely able to talk and looked like he was about to collapse in disappointment.
It's a very uncomfortable feeling trying to get your necessary "quote" at moments like these.
It reminded me of when skater Tim Goebel performed poorly at the U.S. Championships in 2006 and left the ice knowing he would not make the Olympic team.
He also was wracked by sobs, saying, "I feel like I wasted four years of my life."
Askren is just 24, so if he stays in wrestling there's every chance he could compete in another Olympics. Or even two more.
Wednesday, he said he was not good enough ... and did not give his opponent any credit at all.
That was a mistake, although to be fair, consider it took place in the depth of Askren's immediate grief over losing.
But Fundora is a high-quality wrestler. He took third at the last Olympics and has a substantial international record. He dominated and won the match.