America gripped by western hero

Greco-Roman wrestlingTo the stranger sports come the stranger characters. The undoubted star of the Greco-Roman wrestling circuit is Rulon Gardner and his appearance yesterday guaranteed an audience that the odd and disciplined variation on ancient wrestling is rarely afforded.

Four years ago in Sydney, Gardner came from his home in Afton, Wyoming, and caused a sensation by defeating the Russian legend Alexander Karelin in the 120kg division. It was a shock that sent the great Karelin into retirement and meant that the quintessentially Midwestern farm boy became a figure of some notoriety in Russia.

But it was what happened after he returned to Wyoming as an Olympic hero that elevated Gardner into the American public consciousness as a maverick.

In 2002, while snowboarding deep in the Bridge-Teton national forest in Wyoming. Gardner got stranded in soft snow. He had become separated from his friends because of his desire for steeper, more daring banks of snow to ride through. It was already nearing dark and freezing when the remainder of the group decided to shoot back to Afton to raise the alarm.

In true western tradition, a search party was raised and Gardner embarked on a duel against nature that was more severe than any hold or grip the fearsome Karelin inflicted on him.

Rulon is 265 lbs of American prime rib, the youngest son of Reed and Virginia Gardner, he is God-fearing, hard-working and tough as they come.

He tried to bulldoze his way back to civilisation through the wilderness and ended up completely isolated in deep terrain, soaking and without shelter.

The resting temperature in Wyoming at this point of the year was minus 25 degrees. He never lost consciousness, though when he was located at first light, he was hypothermic and barely able to speak. Both feet were frostbitten, and medical staff had no choice but to amputate a middle toe on one of his feet.

The surgery should have ended the big man's wrestling career but two years later, he is back to defend his title. His latest victim was a savagely strong Pole named Serguey Moreyko who made the mistake of getting the big man riled.

For the most part, Greco-Roman wrestling is not a desperately exciting sport. In fact, many of the exchanges seem like a duplication of the kind of slow-dance fare that went on back when Smokie played the Irish provinces. But they are phenomenally strong men and the European had just no answer to Gardner's combination of bulk and technique.

"He kind of punched me," Gardner explained of a key point in the contest later on.

"He kind of tried to headbutt me to cut me up or bloody my face or break my nose. And you sense when people have that extra anger and you don't stand back and go, 'oh God, what do I do.' You go in there and you hit him back. The referee warned me and that is fine. I am a fair wrestler. I never cheat. That is why I walked off the mat then. I saw that cheap shot coming and I am gonna give it back if need be."

While he recovered from the loss of a toe, Gardner's entry to these games was further complicated by a motorcycle accident in which he was involved while wrestling at the national championships in Las Vegas earlier this year. That meant road rash and a dislocated wrist. Shortly afterwards, he dislocated his right wrist playing basketball. There is never a dull moment and that means attention.

Although Gardner has all the major American media chasing his tail, he was especially proud that his local newspaper from Afton had dispatched someone to cover his feats on the mat.

"That shows respect and that's why I love my hometown."

His ambition is to retain his gold medal and to meet Karelin, who is watching the fighting from the stands.

"My wife and half brother had an opportunity to take a picture with him today and I think he recognised him. He looked at my brother kind of weird. I haven't seen him yet but I hope to go up and shake his hand because I think he is the best ever."

Rulon wrestles in the finals tonight.