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Gardner is ready for another gold - minus one toe

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  • Gardner is ready for another gold - minus one toe

    Deutsche Presse-Agentur
    July 28, 2004, Wednesday

    PREVIEW: Gardner is ready for another gold - minus one toe

    Athens

    Rulon Gardner, who scored one of the biggest upsets in Olympic
    history by beating Russian wrestling icon Alexander Karelin for
    super-heavyweight gold at Sydney 2000, will be back in Athens - minus
    one toe. Gardner suffered serious frostbite when left stranded in
    freezing temperatures for 17 hours in a snowmobile during a blizzard
    in 2002. Doctors feared that he would lose all his toes but managed
    to save nine of them. The 2001 world champion Gardner returned to the
    greco-roman version of his sport and managed to qualify for the
    American Olympic team earlier this year despite further injury
    setbacks such as a dislocated wrist and shoulder problems. "It is a
    miracle that I am here again. I thank the Lord for allowing me
    another chance to follow my dream. I am proud to represent my country
    and all it stands for," he said. Gardner gained worldwide fame four
    years ago with a 1-0 victory over Karelin, who had won gold at the
    previous three Games and had not lost a fight in 13 years since 1987.
    In other events, Armen Nazaryan of Bulgaria looks to become the fifth
    three-time gold medallist in the sport's Olympic history after
    claiming the 1996 (for Armenia) and 2000 titles in the greco-roman
    60kg division. Russia hope for freestyle gold from 2000 champion
    David Musulbes (130kg) and the 1996 winner and five-time world
    champion Buvaisa Saitiyev (74kg). The Athens field also features Ali
    Salman, one of a few Iraqi athletes. Other strong teams are Turkey
    and Iran, and the women make their wrestling debut in Athens a mere
    2780 years after the sport first appeared in Olympic competition at
    the ancient Games in Olympia. Recognized as the world's oldest
    competition sport, with records of bouts dating back as far as 3000
    BC, wrestling was a highlight of the ancient Olympic Games which
    started in 776 BC. While valued then as a form of military exercise
    without weapons, it remained a main event when the modern Games began
    in 1896. Greco-Roman wrestling was resurrected from ancient Greek and
    Roman styles, with opponents only allowed to use their arms and upper
    bodies to attack and grapple. Freestyle wrestling was added to the
    Games in 1904, allowing wrestlers to use their legs for pushing,
    lifting and tripping, and holding opponents above and below the
    waist. The 18 events will take place at the Ano Liossia Olympic Hall
    from August 22 to August 29. dpa jb gb ct
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