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2004 Olympics: Other Sports |
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Low-key Sanderson picks up his gold
08:31 PM CDT on Saturday, August 28, 2004
ATHENS, Greece – Olympic wrestler Cael Sanderson earned a degree in art
and design from Iowa State but apparently never learned the meaning of
the word flamboyant.
After edging nemesis Yoel Romero of Cuba to reach Saturday night's final
at 185 pounds, he slapped his hands together, kind of threw a fist and
later darn near apologized: "I don't know what came over me."
Other sports Give 'em the gold: Overall, Athens organizers pull it off Blackistone: China coming on very strong Harasta: USOC slow to take stand Texas athletes contribute to record U.S. medal haul Horn: NBC waited, but 'it' never happened Outside venues, it's about pins and people Low-key Sanderson picks up his gold
The Utah native's emotional limits were further tested when he defeated
South Korea's Moon Eui-jae, 3-1, to give the U.S. freestyle wrestling
men their first gold medal of the Athens Games. He grinned and clenched
his fists as he looked for his wife, Kelly, in the stands. He later
indicated that he pretty much got carried away again.
"I didn't plan on that celebration," he said.
Sanderson's victory followed two finals losses by U.S. men on the first
of two days of medal matches. Oklahoma State graduate Jamill Kelly lost
to Ukraine's Elbrus Tedeyev, 5-1, at 145 ½ pounds, and Fresno State's
Stephen Abas fell to Russia's Mavlet Batirov at 121 pounds, 9-1.
Two more U.S. wrestlers will pursue medals today – Joe Williams at 163
pounds and former OSU standout Daniel Cormier at 211 ½ .
Sanderson, 25, added the Olympic prize to his peerless collegiate record
(the only four-time unbeaten champion in NCAA history) and a
second-place finish at the 2003 world championships.
The first of two three-minute periods ended scoreless. The final period
began with the wrestlers in a clinch, their hands clasped behind each
other. Sanderson gave up his grip after seven seconds and allowed Moon,
also the silver medalist in Sydney, to take a 1-0 lead.
With less than two minutes remaining, Sanderson was awarded two points
for exposing Moon's back to the mat as they rolled out of the circle.
The points were given only after the U.S. coaches asked the mat-side
officials to review the play on tape, allowed in international
wrestling, after the referee didn't award points.
Sanderson added the winning point with a takedown on Moon's legs during
the final minute.
Kelly, 26, said he was shell-shocked and nervous throughout most of his
first period against Tedeyev, a three-time world champion, and fell
behind 5-0.
"That's not an excuse," Kelly said. "At this level, we should be able to
deal with it."
Abas, 26, had similar problems with Batirov. He fell behind 5-1 in the
second period and had to have a cut over his right eye bandaged.
E-mail jmiller@dallasnews.com
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