Gardner wins first two wrestling matches

ATHENS, Greece, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Rulon Gardner, who pulled off an amazing upset in Sydney four years ago, continued his Olympic wrestling success Tuesday.

Gardner won his first two Greco-Roman pool matches to move within one victory of the semifinals in the 120-kilogram class.

At the Sydney Games, Gardner shocked the wrestling world when he defeated Russia's Aleksandr Karelin in the final. It was the first loss of Karelin's career.

On Tuesday, Gardner defeated Lithuania's Mindaugas Mizgaitis, 3-0, and then stopped 1996 Olympic bronze medalist Sergei Moreyko of Bulgaria following a three-minute overtime.

Since winning the gold medal in Sydney, Gardner has overcome a severe snowmobile accident that cost him a toe. He also suffered a serious wrist injury in a pick-up basketball game that almost caused him to miss the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials.