Great expectations

ATHENS, Greece — Russian wrestler Alexander Karelin, one of the greatest Olympians ever, retired shortly after losing the gold in Sydney to unheralded American Rulon Gardner.

Karelin’s departure precluded any Athens rematch — which is just fine with Gardner.

“I’m not disappointed at all that he’s not here,” Gardner said with a wide smile Monday at a news conference for the six-man U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling team. “I have one goal ahead of me this year — to win a gold medal.”

Gardner and his teammates arrived in Athens with high expectations: They want to bring home four medals, and hope for a top 10 finish from everyone on the team. They’re particularly pumped by the idea of competing in Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics and their sport.

“I think we can meet the goal,” coach Steve Fraser said. “I think all of these guys are capable of winning a medal.”

Three of them already have, including Gardner’s gold in 2000. Dennis Hall, coming back at 121 pounds after an eight-year absence, won a 1996 silver medal, while 211-pounder Garrett Lowney captured a bronze four years ago.

Much of the media attention has focused on Gardner, who went from obscurity to celebrity after his stunning upset of the once-invincible Karelin. Gardner has battled a variety of physical ailments since Sydney.

He lost a toe — and nearly his life — after a February 2002 snowmobiling accident left him stranded for 18 hours in the wilderness of Wyoming. He survived a motorcycle crash earlier this year, only to severely dislocate his right wrist in a pickup basketball game.

As proof of his well-being, Gardner last month won his first Greco-Roman international title since 2001 in his final Olympic tuneup. Competition for Gardner and company begins Aug. 24, giving the team another two weeks to prepare and get healthy.