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August 24, 2004 6:31 pm

Rulon Gardner rules day one of wrestling

By BRYCE MILLER

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece - As Rulon Gardner began defense of his stunning 2000 Olympic gold medal Wednesday, all eyes focused on the farm kid who made the impossible possible in Sydney.

And somewhere at Ano Liossia Olympic Hall, Alexander the Great was watching, too. Russian legend Alexander Karelin, the other part of one of the most recounted stories in Olympic history, sat at the Greco-Roman wrestling venue as men from around the world competed in the sport he immortalized.

Gardner swept all three of his matches Tuesday to reach the 264.5-pound semifinals - four years after snapping Karelin's 13-year unbeaten international streak in Sydney.

``My wife and brother had an opportunity to take a picture with him today,'' Gardner said. ``I think he recognized my brother. He kind of looked at (him) weird.''

Gardner, the 2000 Olympic star with Acropolis-sized expectations in Greece, was the sole United States survivor at the four Greco-Roman weights contested on Tuesday.

Dennis Hall (121 pounds), Oscar Wood (146) and Brad Vering (185) were eliminated in pool matches.

Gardner beat Mindaugas Mizgaitis of Lithuania (3-0), Bulgaria's Serguey Moreyko (1-1, OT) and Poland's Marek Mikulski (3-0) to advance. He is assured of wrestling for a medal and, if he wins Wednesday morning, will go for back-to-back golds.

``I've held some things back,'' Gardner said. ``I haven't shown everything that I have yet.''

Gardner, who grew up milking cows and doing farm chores in tiny Afton, Wyo., came to Athens billed as one of the main stories of the Olympics after toppling Karelin.

The closest call on Tuesday for Gardner came against Bulgaria's Moreyko.

Gardner led, 1-0, after the two three-minute periods, short of the minimum three points needed for a regulation win. Moreyko was awarded a point to tie the match when Gardner was penalized for breaking the clinch 39 seconds into overtime.

The clinch is a term in international wrestling when the referee places opponents together, chest to chest, and they must lock hands on the back of the other. The first one to break the locked hands must make an immediate offensive move or the other wrestler is awarded a point.

When neither scored the remainder of the three-minute overtime, Gardner was awarded the victory on criteria because was hit with one less passivity call during the match.

``I'll take any victory out here, because as long as you win you get to move on,'' Gardner said.

Gardner said although he has become one of the most recognized faces at the Olympics, he was left mostly to himself during is limited time in the athletes' village.

He spent time with friend and swimmer Gary Hall Jr., along with members of the U.S. volleyball team.

``A few people kind of look and try to figure out who I am,'' Gardner said. ``A lot of the Russians know who I am. They just kind of look and go about their way - you don't know what they're thinking.

``But it's all, I hope, in respect, because I respect them.''

Gardner, who indicated this likely would be his last Olympics, said he would like to meet one of the fans in the stands on Tuesday, though.

``I hope I can walk up and shake (Karelin's) hand because I still think he's the best ever,'' Gardner said.

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