Rulon Gardner of USA celebrates winning the gold medal by defeating Aleksandr Karelin of Russia in the 130 kilogram event during the Greco Roman wrestling. Photo by Billy Strickland/Getty Images.

It's been ten years since Wyoming native Rulon Gardner shocked the world and defeated Russia's superman Aleksandr Karelin for the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Brandon Penny of TeamUSA.org writes about what went into the performance and what life is like for Gardner today.

Read the full story here

In its first year as a website, TheMat.com covered Gardner's amazing victory. In searching our archives, here is an update from the evening of his historic victory.

 It's 2:00 a.m. in Sydney, and Rulon Gardner is the king of the world