Gardner named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week
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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
07/21/2004
Rulon Gardner (Cascade, Colo./Sunkist Kids) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for the week of July 13-July 19. Each week, TheMat.com will select an Athlete of the Week, based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level. The announcement will be made each week on Wednesday. Gardner won a gold medal at the 2004 Pytlasinski Tournament in Warsaw, Poland last weekend. It was the first gold medal for Gardner in an overseas tournament since the 2001 World Championships. Gardner, a 2000 Olympic gold medalist and 2001 World Champion, defeated 2002 World bronze medalist Yuri Patrikeev of Russia 2-0 in the gold-medal match. In the semifinals, Gardner downed Mirian Giorgadze of Georgia, a 2003 World Cup bronze medalist, 3-1. Gardner will next compete at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, August 24-26. Click here to view previous Athletes of the Week