On Monday, October 18, 12 members of the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team visited the White House along with hundreds of other Olympians and Paralympians.    The athletes were honored by President George W. Bush on the White House lawn.    However, when President Bush was done addressing the Olympians, he surged into the crowd and found 2000 Olympic gold medalist and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Rulon Gardner (Wellsville, Utah), according to news reports.    "It surprised me," Gardner said. "I didn't plan on that. I was like a kid in a candy store. It was very, very touching to meet him. He's our president. He is an icon to our country."    In an emotional moment, Gardner retired after a Greco-Roman bronze medal at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. in the 2004 Olympic Games. To announce his retirement, Gardner left his shoes on the mat.    Several of the people at the White House event asked Gardner what he planned to do in the future. He said he did not know but made a point of saying his large feet may one day follow in Bush's footsteps.    "People have mentioned it to me," Gardner replied when asked if he would run for office. "It could happen. A farmer's kid from Wyoming could be a congressman, and that's what makes our system so special."    Also in attendance was 2004 men's freestyle gold medalist Cael Sanderson (Ames, Iowa), who captured the title at 84 kg/185 lbs.    Sanderson, like all of the other athletes in attendance, felt special just being able to visit the White House.    "This was a really neat experience. Not only was it nice that I was able to come, but it's cool to be here with all of these other Olympians. We were able to experience Athens together, and now we were able to experience this together as well," Sanderson said.    This was Sanderson's second trip to the White House. His first trip came after he completed a college wrestling career at Iowa State Univ. when he became the first NCAA wrestler to finish his career undefeated (159-0) with four NCAA titles.    Sanderson met with this same President Bush then as well.    "(President Bush) is a laid back guy. He's a big sports fan and was a good athlete himself, and I think that's why all of us are able to connect with him on a trip like this. I think he enjoyed our company as much as we enjoyed visiting his."    In Athens, Sanderson presented Bush's mother, former First Lady Barbara Bush, with an Olympic jacket before the U.S. delegation at the American College of Greece. Former President George Bush was an honorary team leader of the U.S. delegation in Athens.    Also visiting the White House were U.S. men's freestyle Olympians Stephen Abas (Fresno, Calif.), Eric Guerrero (Stillwater, Okla.), 2004 silver medalist Jamill Kelly (Stillwater, Okla.), Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa), Daniel Cormier (Stillwater, Okla.) and Kerry McCoy (Bethlehem, Pa.).    Greco-Roman wrestlers on the trip along with Gardner were Jim Gruenwald (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Oscar Wood (Fountain, Colo.).    2004 bronze medalist Patricia Miranda (New Haven, Conn.) and Toccara Montgomery (Cleveland, Ohio) represented the U.S. women's freestyle squad.    U.S. Wrestlers That Visited The White House  Men's Freestyle  55 kg/121 lbs. - Stephen Abas, Fresno, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)  60 kg/132 lbs. - Eric Guerrero, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jamill Kelly, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)  74 kg/163 lbs. - Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)  84 kg/185 lbs. - Cael Sanderson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)  96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Daniel Cormier, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)  120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Kerry McCoy, Bethlehem, Pa. (New York AC)    Greco-Roman  60 kg/132 lbs. - Jim Gruenwald, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Oscar Wood, Fountain, Colo. (U.S. Army)  120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Rulon Gardner, Wellsville, Utah (Sunkist Kids)    Women's Freestyle  48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Patricia Miranda, New Haven, Conn. (Dave Schultz WC)  72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Toccara Montgomery, Cleveland Ohio (New York AC)