Cael's gold matches and other's

[Grappling-fan]

Men's Freestyle 84kg (185lbs) Final 84kg
Saturday, August 28, 2004 -- Ano Liossia Olympic Hall
Official
Country Name Points Result Class Points Warnings Passivities
USA SANDERSON Cael (RED) 3 PP 3 1 0
KOR MOON Eui Jae (BLUE) 1 1 0 2


Match Actions
Time Red Blue
04:32 +2
05:10 +1


Officials
Name Country Function
LAGANA Antonio ITA Judge
SHERBA Vladimir BLR Judge
SIMIC Branco SCG Judge

Legend
EF: Victory by forfeit, the loser not being classified.
EV: Disqualification from competition for violation of the rules.
EX: Three cautions or violations of the rules.
E2: Both wrestlers are disqualified for violation of the rules.
PA: Injury default.
PO: Decision by points, the loser without technical points.
PP: Decision by points, the loser with technical points.
SP: Grand superiority, 10 points difference, the loser with points.
ST: Grand superiority, 10 points difference, the loser without points
TO: Victory by fall.

Men's Freestyle 66kg (145.5lbs) Final
Saturday, August 28, 2004 -- Ano Liossia Olympic Hall
Official
Country Name Points Result Class Points
Warnings Passivities
UKR TEDEYEV Elbrus (RED) 5 PP 3

0 0
USA KELLY Jamill (BLUE) 1 1

0 0


Match Actions
Time Red Blue
01:43 +2
05:28 +1


Officials
Name Country Function
ALBRECHT Fredi Gunther Willi GER Judge
NAITO Yoshimitsu JPN Judge
KAZARIAN Stephan ARM Judge

Legend
EF: Victory by forfeit, the loser not being classified.
EV: Disqualification from competition for violation of the rules.
EX: Three cautions or violations of the rules.
E2: Both wrestlers are disqualified for violation of the rules.
PA: Injury default.
PO: Decision by points, the loser without technical points.
PP: Decision by points, the loser with technical points.
SP: Grand superiority, 10 points difference, the loser with points.
ST: Grand superiority, 10 points difference, the loser without points
TO: Victory by fall.


Men's Freestyle 55kg (121lbs) Final
Saturday, August 28, 2004 -- Ano Liossia Olympic Hall
Official
Country Name Points Result Class Points

Warnings Passivities
RUS BATIROV Mavlet (BLUE) 9 PP 3

1 1
USA ABAS Stephen (RED) 1 1

0 0


Match Actions
Time Red Blue
02:49 +1
03:55 +1
04:41 +1
05:42 +1


Officials
Name Country Function
PROBST Eberhard GER Judge
MARKOV Millien BUL Judge
KHALEDI Medhi IRI Judge

Legend
EF: Victory by forfeit, the loser not being classified.
EV: Disqualification from competition for violation of the rules.
EX: Three cautions or violations of the rules.
E2: Both wrestlers are disqualified for violation of the rules.
PA: Injury default.
PO: Decision by points, the loser without technical points.
PP: Decision by points, the loser with technical points.
SP: Grand superiority, 10 points difference, the loser with points.
ST: Grand superiority, 10 points difference, the loser without points
TO: Victory by fall.

84 Kg. FINALS: Cael Sanderson (RED) of USA, BEAT: Moon Eui Jae (BLUE) of S. KOR: 3-1

66 Kg. FINALS: Jamill Kelly (BLUE) of USA, LOST to: Tedeyev, Elbrus (RED) of UKR: 5-1

55 Kg. FINALS: Stephen Abas (RED) of USA, LOST to: BATIROV Mavlet (BLUE) of RUS: 9-1

84 Kg. MEN'S FINALS: Cael Sanderson: of: USA = "GOLD", OVER:
Moon Eui Jae: of: S. KOR: "SILVER", by a FINAL SCORE OF: 3-1

66 Kg. MEN'S FINALS: Tedeyev, Elbrus of: UKR= "GOLD", OVER:
Jamill Kelly: of: USA: "SILVER", by a FINAL SCORE OF: 5-1

55 Kg. MEN'S FINALS: BATIROV, Mavlet: of RUS= "GOLD", OVER: Stephen Abas: of USA: "SILVER", by a FINAL SCORE OF: 9-1

U.S men's freestylers impressive on first day
By Jon Ackerman, NBCOlympics.com

POSTED: Friday, August 27, 6:11 a.m.
UPDATED: Friday, August 27, 5:16 p.m.

ATHENS -- After the United States women's wrestling contingent managed two medals -- neither of them gold -- and the men's Greco-Roman team mustered just one bronze, the U.S. men's freestyle wrestlers came out Friday determined to do better.

Of the four Americans who competed, the only one with previous Olympic experience was eliminated. Kerry McCoy, 2003 world heavyweight silver medalist, lost his last pool match in overtime, while Stephen Abas, Jamill Kelly and Cael Sanderson all advanced to their weight class's semifinals.

Those three will wrestle for berths in gold-medal matches on Saturday, as the other three U.S. freestylers see their first action Saturday morning.

NBC Image
Abas (in back) had to take out 2002 World champ Rene Montero to get to the semifinals.
This U.S. team arrived at Ano Liossia Olympic Hall on Friday confident and poised. All had made their mark on the national level, and were ready to take it to the next stage. They finished the morning session without a loss, and ended the evening session with only McCoy's.

Sanderson (84kg/185 lbs) carried possibly the heaviest expectations. His 2003 World Championship silver medal came two years after he concluded a marvelous run at Iowa State, which featured 159 victories and four national titles. Though he called his much-anticipated Olympic debut "sloppy," it was a victory; he defeated Kazakhstan's Magomed Kurugliyev, 4-2.

"It's crazy to think that we're actually at these Games just because we've spent so many hours thinking about these moments," said the 25-year-old. "It's neat to be here."

It's also neat to be wrestling for an Olympic medal, which Sanderson will do Saturday in the semifinals against Cuba's Yoel Romero, the silver medalist from Sydney.

Day 14 Images
U.S. freestylers impress on first day

Sanderson dominated his first Friday evening match, winning 9-1 over Bulgaria's Siarhei Borchanka, who was fourth at the 2003 Worlds. In the quarterfinals, Sanderson defeated Iran's Majid Khodaei 6-5 in overtime.

"That was a great match," Sanderson said after outlasting Khodaei. "I'm pumped. He's a very technical wrestler."

But Sanderson was expected to reach the semifinals. Abas (55kg/121 lbs) wasn't, especially considering his draw. His first match of the tournament pitted him against Moldova's Ghenadi Tulbea, who ousted Abas from the 2003 Worlds and went on to claim silver.

In that quarterfinal match last year, Abas jumped out to a 5-0 lead before losing 10-8; he ended up fifth. On Friday, Abas again grabbed a quick 5-0 lead, scoring all the first-period points before 40 seconds had expired. This time, though, the American maintained his lead and won 6-1.

"I thought it would be a good chance to get my win back," said the three-time NCAA champion from Fresno State. "I knew I could get him."

NBC Image
McCoy looked ready to improve upon his fifth-place finish from 2000, but he lost before reaching the semifinals.
Abas then drew Cuba's Rene Montero, the 2002 world champion. With 18 seconds left in the match, Abas used a gut wrench to turn Montero for a two-point back exposure and the decision.

In his quarterfinal match with China's Li Zhengyu, Abas took an early lead and won 6-1.

"I love it. This is what I've trained for. It's why I'm here," said Abas, who will face Japan's Chikara Tanabe in the semifinals.

Then there was Kelly (66kg/145.5 lbs), who never won even a high school or college championship before taking his first major title at the 2004 Nationals.

He first defeated Moldova's Ruslan Bodisteanu 3-0 in overtime to complete the undefeated U.S. morning session. At night he eliminated Azerbaijan's Elman Asgarov, 3-2, when the Azerbaijani broke the clinch to start overtime.

By virtue of a lucky draw, Kelly advanced right to the semifinals by winning his pool. He will face Russia's Makhach Murtazaliev, who needed to win his pool plus a quarterfinal match to land in the semifinals.

[Grappling-fan]

Cael Sanderson Wins first U.S.A. Gold Medal of the 2004', Athens,
Greece, Summer
Olympics;
S. Abas, J. Kelly Earn and Claim Silver Medals

By Jon Ackerman, NBCOlympics.com


UPDATED: 5:06 PM EDT August 28, 2004

ATHENS -- Ever since he left Iowa State in 2001 without losing a

single wrestling match in four years, everyone wanted to know how

Cael Sanderson could do on the international stage.

After two days of competing in his first Olympics, also without losing

a single match, the 25-year-old earned the first gold medal for the U

.S. wrestling contingent in Athens. On Saturday night at Ano Liossia

Olympic Hall, Sanderson defeated 2000 silver medalist Moon Eui-Jae

of South Korea in the 84kg (185 lbs) final.

NBC Image
Sanderson (center) lived up to his expectations by winning gold in

his first Olympics.
"It feels great," said Sanderson, a 2003 World Championship silver

medalist. "What a relief, after all the expectations I've put on myself,

to finally get it done."

But it was the only gold medal the U.S. wrestlers earned Saturday,

despite having two other competitors in gold-medal matches of their

own. Stephen Abas (55kg/121 lbs) and Jamill Kelly (66kg/145.5 lbs)

will return home with silver medals.

The three medals on Saturday equal the number earned by both the

U.S. women's freestyle and men's Greco-Roman teams, and capped

another impressive day for the U.S. men's freestyle team.

Also Saturday night, American Joe Williams (74kg/163 lbs) qualified

for his weight's quarterfinals, and Daniel Cormier (86kg/211.5 lbs) of

the U.S. advanced to his class's semifinals. Their next matches are

Sunday.

But even before the recent retirement of two-time Olympic medalist

Rulon Gardner, Sanderson was pegged to be the new face of U.S.

wrestling. On Saturday, he showed why.

Day 15 Images
U.S. freestylers impress again

Against Moon, Sanderson needed to come back from a 1-0 deficit to

get the win. They ended the first period scoreless, but Moon first

jumped on the board when Sanderson broke the clinch to start the

second period in an attempt to execute his patent ankle move.

Though he missed that time, Sanderson soon nailed Moon for a two

-point back exposure, and later took Moon down for the match-

ending third point.

In his semifinal, Sanderson defeated Cuban nemesis Yoel Romero,

the silver medalist from 2000. Romero lost to reigning world

champion Sazhid Sazhidov of Russia in the bronze-medal match.

Abas and Kelly, however, weren't as successful as Sanderson.

Abas was up first in the 55kg (121 lbs) final against Russia's Mavlet

Batirov, a 2001 Worlds silver medalist, and the American never led.

After ending the first period up 3-1, the Russian sealed the gold with

a 9-1 victory.

But for Abas, whose best previous major international finish was

fifth at the 2003 Worlds, a silver in his first Olympics is nothing to

sulk about.

NBC Image
Abas, who needed a cut over his eye taped, earned a silver in his

first Olympics.
"I'm not ashamed of what I did today. I had a great tournament," he

said.

In the semifinals, Abas shut out Japan's Chikara Tanabe, who would

go on to take bronze.

In his 66kg (145.5 lbs) final, Kelly faced the Ukraine's Elbrus

Tedeyev, a 1996 bronze medalist and 2002 world champ. Tedeyev

grabbed the lead first, using an effective ankle twist to score his five

first-period points. Kelly managed a one-point takedown for himself

with 30 seconds to go, but Tedeyev would get a 5-1 win for the gold.

"I knew he was good with the (ankle) lace," said Kelly, who never

won as much as a high school or college championship before

taking his first major title at the 2004 Nationals. "I got lazy, and he

got me twice. That's four points and the final was 5-1."

Kelly reached the final after judges had to replay the final seconds of

his semifinal match with Russia's Makhach Murtazaliev. After one

video replay, the judges declared the Russian the winner. But Kelly

demanded another replay, and after judges reviewed the video a

second time, they awarded Kelly the two points needed for the win.

Murtazaliev would go on to earn bronze.

For the heavyweight (120kg/264.5) gold medal, Uzbekistan's Artur

Taymazov defeated Iran's Alireza Rezaei, 4-0. Turkey's Aydin Polatci

won bronze. The U.S. heavyweight, Kerry McCoy, was the lone

American not to advance from Friday's preliminary matches, and

also the only American with previous Olympic freestyle experience.

In pool elimination matches, Williams defeated Georgia's Gela

Saghirashvili, 6-1, in the morning, and took out Iran's Mehdi

Hajizadeh, the 2002 World champ, in his evening match, 3-0. He'll

face Kazakhstan's Gennadiy Laliyev in the quarterfinals.

Cormier shut out Austria's Radovan Valach, 9-0, in his early match,

and then dominated Poland's Bartlomiej Bartnicki for a 10-1 win

Saturday evening. By virtue of a lucky draw, Cormier goes straight to

the semifinals at 96kg (211 1/5 pounds), and will face the winner of

Russia's Khadjimourat Gatsalov and Belarus' Aleksandr Shemarov.

Eric Guerrero, at 60kg (132 lbs), was the only American not to win a

match in these Olympics, as he ended his day with a 3-1 loss to

Georgia's David Pogosian. In his morning match, he fell to

Mongolia's Purevbaatar Oyunbileg by the same score.

Sazhid Sazhidov
Country Russia
Sport Wrestling
Event(s) Freestyle 84kg (185lbs)
Birthdate February 6, 1980
Birthplace Tigatla, Russia
Height 5'10" / 178 cm
Residence Makhatshkala, Russia

Golden boy:

The reigning world champion in freestyle at 84kg (185 lbs) and a

rising Russian star, Sazhid Sazhidov is no stranger to success. He

has qualified for three major international competitions in his career

and won gold at all three. After winning European titles in 2001 and

2002, Sazhidov won the world title in 2003. Sazhidov, who had to

defeat 2000 Olympic champion Adam Saitiyev just to earn his

Olympic berth, has shown he is ready for Olympic competition.

Rematch?
In the 84kg final at the 2003 World Championships in New York City,

Sazhidov defeated American Cael Sanderson, 4-3, in a tightly

contested match at Madison Square Garden. The same two are

expected to battle for the gold in Athens.



A 1999' World Champion (Gold Medal) and 2000' Olympic Silver
Medalist

Name: Yoel Romero (1999 World Championships Gold Medal, and

2000' World Championsips Silver Medal Winner)
Country: Cuba
Sport: Freestyle Wrestling
Event(s): Men's Freestyle Wrestling 84 Kg. (185 Lbss) Class/Cat.
Birthdate: April 3rd, 1977
Birthplace: Pinar del Rio, Cuba
Height: 5'10" / 178 cm.
Residence: Havana, Cuba





A 1999' World Champion in Freestyle Wrestling and 2000' Olympic

Silver Medalist, Yoel Romero is a Gold Medal Contender and Hopeful

in the 84 Kg. (185 Lbs.) Freestyle Wrestling Weight cClass. He is one

of the most consistent Freestyle Wrestlers in his Division, having

Won Multiple Medals at Four of the past Five World Championships.

But because of his showmanship, he has been called "the Strutter"

by some journalists.


Romero has been nicknamed "The Strutter."

At the very young age 22, Romero Defeated 1996' Olympic Gold

Medalist Khadjimurad Magomedov of Russia in the Final of the 1999'

World Championships. Upon returning home, he was received at the

Main Airport in Cuba by the Minister of Sport, Umberto Rodriguez,

and a horde of fans. But despite his early success, Romero has Not

been able to Win another Major Freestyle Wrestling Title. In the Final

at the 2000' (Sydney, Australia) Summer Olympic Games, Romero

was Dominated by Russian Adam Saitiyev, scoring Only One Point

before being Pinned in 3 Minutes, 41 Seconds!


Sanderson's Arch Nemesis:

Since hyped American star Cael Sanderson arrived on the

International Freestyle Wrestling scene in 2002', Romero has been

one of his stiffest competitors. Romero Defeated the American the

first Two times they met, once at the Titan Games in February of

2003', and again later in the year at the 2003' Pan American Games.

After the Titan Games, Romero kissed his American opponent on the

cheek (like BJ did to Matt!). "He does that to Everybody," Sanderson

told Sports Illustrated. "There's NOT much you (Or Anyone) can do

about it, except just stand there." Romero is probably the ONLY

Freestyle Wrestler in the Weight Class (84 Kg. (185 Lbs.) over whom

Sanderson does NOT have a quickness advantage.




Romero's expressive behavior can elicit both cheers and jeers from

the crowd, evidenced at the 1999' World Championships when the

crowd first applauded his Victory celebration before jeering as it

continued. "I feel the Competition when I'm Wrestling," he says of his

emotions. "It's part of the spirit of the Competition. I don't mind when

people react to that."




Romero's hometown of Pinar Del Rio, Cuba, is a city of 200,000 that

lies 100 Miles South West of Havana, Cuba, and also produced 1997'

World Champion Wilfredo Garcia and 1999' World Champion Luis

Mendez (NOT to mention ALL of the Boxing Champions they have as

well!). Romero is one of five sons in his family; his father, Pablo, was

an Internationally Competitive Boxer. Yoel originally liked Boxing but

since he COULD NOT find a Boxing Coach, he decided to take up

Wrestling. Since he was Seven, he says he wanted to play or do

some kind of a: "Combat Sport," and at age 10, began Wrestling (

Olympic Freestyle) seriously. Romero says he would really like to

become a Freestyle Wrestling Coach following his Competitive

Freestyle Wrestling Career.

[Grappling-fan]

Daniel Cormier
Country United States
Sport Wrestling
Event(s) Freestyle 96kg (211.5lbs)
Birthdate March 20, 1979
Birthplace Lafayette, Louisiana
Height 5'11" / 180 cm
College Oklahoma State University
Residence Stillwater, Oklahoma

Now for the Olympics
Though one of the least experienced wrestlers on the U.S. team, Daniel Cormier has been impressive at major competitions. After winning his first U.S. title in 2003, he finished fifth at his first World Championships. Cormier won his second U.S. crown in 2004 en route to his first Olympic berth. He is one of three Oklahoma State grads on the U.S. freestyle team; Eric Guerrero and Jamill Kelly are the others.
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Cormier (left) is the youngest of the three Oklahoma State freestyle wrestlers on the U.S. team.

Tragic accident
Cormier's life has been beset by a series of tragedies. The most recent and most devastating was the death of his 3½-month old daughter, Kaedyn Imri Cormier, in a car accident in June 2003. An 18-wheeler rear-ended the car Kaedyn was riding in on Interstate 35, north of Austin, Texas. Two other people in the car suffered significant injuries, but survived. Cormier was excused from the World Team Trials to deal with his loss, and USA Wrestling later held a special wrestle-off to determine who would represent the U.S. at the World Championships. Cormier defeated Dean Morrison to earn the spot.

More accidents
The death of a close family member was not new to Cormier. When Cormier was 7, his father, Joseph, was shot and killed on Thanksgiving Day in 1986 by the father of his second wife. And during Cormier's junior year in high school, a close friend and football teammate was killed in a car accident. A year later, he lost a cousin in another auto accident. Then, while attending Oklahoma State University, a good friend of Cormier's, Daniel Lawson, was among those who perished in a plane crash involving the Cowboys' basketball team.

Tough loss

Rough start
Cormier got his start in wrestling at age 11, after he and a friend got in a fistfight in the school parking lot. The wrestling coach broke it up and suggested the boys do something more productive with their aggression. Cormier said he didn't like the sport initially because his younger brother, Ferral, was succeeding and he wasn't. Plus, Cormier says he wanted to be a WWF wrestler. But he stuck with it and eventually won three state high school titles

LSU football or Colby, Kansas?
Cormier was also an all-state linebacker in football and had a scholarship offer to play at Louisiana State. But by that point he preferred wrestling. So in 1997 he left home to attend Colby Junior College in Kansas, where he wrestled for two years before transferring to wrestling powerhouse Oklahoma State. In 2001, Cormier finished second at the NCAA Championships. He graduated later that year with a degree in sociology. He still lives in Stillwater and trains under Oklahoma State coach John Smith, but goes to Colorado Springs, Colo., to train with U.S. National Team freestyle coach Kevin Jackson about six times a year.

[Grappling-fan]

Men's Freestyle 96kg (211.5lbs) Elimination Pool G
Saturday, August 28, 2004 -- Ano Liossia Olympic Hall
Official
Country Name Points Result Class Points Warnings Passivities
USA CORMIER Daniel (RED) 10 PP 3 0 0
POL BARTNICKI Bartlomiej (BLUE) 1 1 0 0


Match Actions
Time Red Blue
00:48 +2
03:34 +1
04:23 +2
05:57 +1


Officials
Name Country Function
PROBST Eberhard GER Judge
BOUAZIZ Mohamed Kamel TUN Judge
BUYUKERSEN Ender TUR Judge

Legend
EF: Victory by forfeit, the loser not being classified.
EV: Disqualification from competition for violation of the rules.
EX: Three cautions or violations of the rules.
E2: Both wrestlers are disqualified for violation of the rules.
PA: Injury default.
PO: Decision by points, the loser without technical points.
PP: Decision by points, the loser with technical points.
SP: Grand superiority, 10 points difference, the loser with points.
ST: Grand superiority, 10 points difference, the loser without points
TO: Victory by fall.

[Lefty]

so ,like when are you going to get me some info on this cael guy?:-D

[Cbear]

Cael is a modern day amatuer legend. The gold really caps off his career.

[Shamrocked]

I think it's alright for me to say it because I'm an Iowa boy (kind of like using the "N word" if you're black), but in my opinion the gold medal elevates Cael past Dan Gable as a wrestler. Both are 4 time NCAA champions with a gold medal, but Sanderson was undefeated. Obviously Gable is also a legendary coach, so Cael still has some work to do in order to achieve legendary status.

Go Hawkeyes!

[Grappling-fan]

I think it's alright for me to say it because I'm an Iowa boy (kind of like using the "N word" if you're black), but in my opinion the gold medal elevates Cael past Dan Gable as a wrestler. Both are 4 time NCAA champions with a gold medal, but Sanderson was undefeated. Obviously Gable is also a legendary coach, so Cael still has some work to do in order to achieve legendary status.

Go Hawkeyes!

Dan was a two time National Champion, he was red shirted his freshman year, the beat in the finals his senior year.

[Shamrocked]

Dan was a two time National Champion, he was red shirted his freshman year, the beat in the finals his senior year.You're right. I got so wrapped up in Gable wrestling lore that I got my facts mixed up! Good call Grappling-fan.

[Grappling-fan]

You're right. I got so wrapped up in Gable wrestling lore that I got my facts mixed up! Good call Grappling-fan.

Thanks bro :), Dan Gable was one of my childhood hero's. I even dated his god daughter, she was in the military with me.

He is still one of the greatest in my eyes. Schultz, Sanderson, Gable off the top of my head. Karelin of course also.