| Rulon Gardner to face unbeaten superstar Alexandre Kareline in super heavyweight gold medal showdown |
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By Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
09/27/2000
Rulon Gardner (Afton, Wyo./Sunkist Kids) won his semifinal match, and will face three-time Olympic Champion and unbeaten Alexandre Kareline of Russia in the gold medal finals in Greco-Roman wrestling. This historic showdown will be held on September 27 at the Sydney Exhibition Center, Halls 1 and 2, at the evening 5:00 session. Gardner faced Juri Yevseychyc of Israel in the semifinals. The first period had no scoring, as each received a passivity and nobody executed a turn. The flip for the clinch went to Israel, who locked up first. In about 10 seconds, Gardner lost his lock in the clinch, and was hit with a caution and one point penalty. At the 3:54 mark, Yevseychik scored a takedown in a weird scramble with Gardner. The Israeli was hit for passivity at 4:40. Rulon kept him up, then powered him out of bounds for a caution and one, closing the score to 2-1. Gardner pushed the man around the mat but didn't score before the period ended. In overtime, the Israeli was clearly gassed, trying to hold the lead. Gardner scored a takedown at 6:24 in overtime, closing it to 2-2. A caution and one point penalty against Yetvseychyk gave Gardner the win at 7:39. Kareline reached the finals with two victories this session. He stopped Gerogiy Saldadze of Ukraine, 4-0, in the quarterfinals with relative ease. In the semifinals, he faced Dmitry Debelka of Belarus, claiming a solid 3-0 victory. Kareline is arguably the greatest Olympic athlete in history. He has won three Olympic gold medals and nine World Championship gold medals. He has never lost an international wrestling match ever, beginning his career in 1985 with a gold medal at the Junior World Championships. Gardner was fifth in the World Championships in 1998. During that event, he faced Kareline for the first time, losing a 5-0 match in overtime. It was the only meeting ever between these star wrestlers. In his quarterfinal, Gruenwald faced two-time Olympic bronze medalist Zetian Sheng of China. Gruenwald open strongly, scoring a one-point lift at 2:53 for a 1-0 lead at the break. In the second period, Sheng opened up his offense, scoring 11 consecutive points for a technical fall. He got a two-point turn, followed by a five-point throw with on additional appreciation point, for an 8-1 lead. Sheng closed the explosive display with a one-point lift and a two point turn. Gruenwald lost to Ali Ashkani of Iran in the fifth place match, 3-2. It was closely contested, but Askhani led at the mid break, 2-1, and scored the deciding third point midway through the final period. Wednesday, September 27, 9:30 a.m. session 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - James Gruenwald, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) Quarterfinals - lost by tech. fall to Zetian Sheng (China), 11-0 Fifth place match - lost dec. Ali Ashkani (Iran), 3-2 130 kg/286 lbs. - Rulon Gardner, Afton, Wyo. (Sunkist Kids) Semifinals - dec. Juri Yevseychyc (Israel), 3-2, ot, 7:39
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