COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Rulon Gardner still has a long way to go.

But his return to the mat on Saturday was a positive step in his comeback to Greco-Roman wrestling.

Gardner won all four matches, while competing in the heavyweight division, at the Kiki Cup dual-meet event on Saturday at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

Gardner, 40, a 2000 Olympic gold medalist, competed for the first time since he won his bronze-medal match at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

“It was a good learning experience,” Gardner said. “It was a good day and I didn’t get scored on. My movement was good. I felt strong, powerful and quick, but still a little big. 

“It was a blast. It’s fun to be around the guys again and great to be wrestling again.”

Gardner decided to return to wrestling after dropping nearly 200 pounds on NBC’s “Biggest Loser” television show last year. He returned to training shortly after leaving the show last year and has spent considerable time training in Colorado Springs.

He outscored his four Kiki Cup opponents – two from India, one from Spain and one from Italy – by a combined 25-0 score on Saturday.

Gardner, a 2001 World champion, enjoyed a noticeable size advantage in wrestling in the 120 kg/264.5 lbs. division. There was no weigh-in for the Kiki Cup and Gardner estimates he is still about 30 pounds away from making that class.

“I’m still big, and I need to bring my weight down,” Gardner said. “This is exciting, being the Olympic year. We have high expectations and we expect to be victorious.”

Gardner said he hopes the Kiki Cup provides a springboard for him as he continues preparations for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in April.

“The Kiki Cup was an amazing experience for me,” he said. “It was a great opportunity to get some matches in and get a feel for wrestling again. I had a chance to work on some things and hopefully it will help me as I try to get back on the Olympic Team again.”

Gardner’s past rival, World champion Dremiel Byers, looked dominant in winning all four of his bouts at 120 kilos on Saturday.

Past World bronze medalist Justin Ruiz also went 4-0 on Saturday at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

SATURDAY’S KIKI CUP RESULTS
USA #3 7, INTERNATIONAL 0
55 kg – Jermaine Hodge (USA #3) dec. Joginder Singh (India), 1-0, 1-0
60 kg – Marco Lara (USA #3) dec. Ravinder Khatri (India), 0-1, 2-0, 1-0
66 kg – Ellis Coleman (USA #3) dec. Sandeep Yadav (India), 1-4, 6-0, 3-1
74 kg – Aaron Sieracki (USA #3) dec. Rajbir Chikara (India), 6-0, 0-1, 1-0
84 kg – Cheney Haight (USA #3) won by forfeit
96 kg – R.C. Johnson (USA #3) dec Georgios Koutsioumpas (Greece), 1-0, 2-0
120 kg – Rulon Gardner (USA #3) dec. Dharmender Dalal (India), 1-0, 2-0

INDIA 5, USA #4 2
55 kg – Rajinder Kumar (India) over Joey Denova (USA #4), 0-1, 1-0, 2-0
60 kg – Anil Kumar (India) over Jesse Thielke (USA #4), 3-1, 2-2
66 kg – Sunil Rana (India) over Josh Castellano (USA #4), 1-0, 3-0
74 kg – Ravinder Khatri (India) dec. Tanner Andrews (USA #4), 0-1, 1-0, 2-0
84 kg – Mark Stenberg (USA #4) dec. Manoj Kumar (India), 2-0, 2-0
96 kg – Ashok Kumar (India) dec. Marcus Finau (USA #4), 0-2, 1-0, 3-0
120 kg – Toby Erickson (USA #4) dec. Pal Rishi (India), 3-0, 7-0

USA #3 4, INDIA 3
55 kg – Rajinder Kumar (India) dec. Jermaine Hodge (USA #3), 1-0, 1-0
60 kg – Anil Kumar (India) dec. Marco Lara (USA #3), 1-0, 2-0
66 kg – Sunil Rana (India) dec. Ben Sanchez (USA #3), 4-0, 2-0
74 kg – Ben Provisor (USA #3) dec. Ravinder Khatri (India), 1-0, 2-0
84 kg – Cheney Haight (USA #3) dec. Manoj Kumar (India), 0-1, 2-0, 1-0
96 kg – R.C. Johnson (USA #3) dec. Ashok Kumar (India), 1-0, 4-0
120 kg – Rulon Gardner (USA #3) dec. Pal Rishi (India), 2-0, 7-0

USA #4 6, INTERNATIONAL 1
55 kg – Max Nowry (USA #4) dec. Joginder Singh (India), 1-3, 6-0, 2-0
60 kg – Jesse Thielke (USA #4) dec. Rajinder Kumar (India), 2-3, 3-0, 6-0
66 kg – Josh Castellano (USA #4) dec. Sandeep Yadav (India), 4-1, 3-0
74 kg – Kendrick Sanders (USA #4) dec. Rajbir Chikara (India), 1-0, 1-0
84 kg – Mark Stenberg (USA #4) won by forfeit
96 kg – Georgios Koutsioumpas (Greece) dec. Zach Nielsen (USA #4), 2-0, 1-1
120 kg – Toby Erickson (USA #4) dec. Dharmender Dalal (India), 3-2, 1-0

USA #1 6, SPAIN 1
55 kg – Joaquin Martinez (Spain) over Spenser Mango (USA #1), 2-0, 0-2, 2-0
60 kg – Joe Betterman (USA #1) won by forfeit
66 kg – C.P. Schlatter (USA #1) dec. Ismael Navarro (Spain), 3-0, 1-3, 1-0
74 kg – Jake Fisher (USA #1) over Ricardo Gill (Spain) Dec 1-0,2-0
84 kg – Chas Betts (USA #1) dec. Pedro J. Garcia (Spain), 3-0, 3-0
96 kg – Justin Ruiz (USA #1) dec. Narek Setaghyan (Spain), 2-1, 8-0
120 kg – Dremiel Byers (USA #1) dec. Andres Bernardino (Spain), 4-0, 6-0

USA #2 5, ITALY 2
55 kg – Paul Tellgren (USA #2) dec. Federico Manea (Italy), 1-0, 0-7, 1-0
60 kg – Vincenzo Macri (Italy) dec. Jeremiah Davis (USA #2), 0-2, 2-0, 1-0
66 kg – Glenn Garrison (USA #2) dec. Tiziano Corriga (Italy), 0-2, 2-0, 2-0
74 kg – Andy Bisek (USA #2) dec. Saverio Scaramuzzi (Italy), 1-0, 3-0
84 kg – Jordan Holm (USA #2) dec. Vincenzo Scibilia (Italy), 2-0, 4-0
96 kg – Daigoro Timoncini (Italy) dec. Pete Gournaridis (USA #2) Dec 2-0,1-0
120 kg – Brandon Rupp (USA #2) dec. Daniele Ficara Rocco (Italy), 1-0, 3-0

USA #2 4, SPAIN 3
55 kg – Joaquin Martinez (Spain) dec. Paul Tellgren (USA #2), 2-0, 6-0
60 kg – Jeremiah Davis (USA #2) won by forfeit
66 kg – Ismael Navarro (Spain) dec. Glenn Garrison (USA #2), 0-1, 1-0, 2-0
74 kg – Andy Bisek (USA #2) dec. Ricardo Gill (Spain), 1-0, 7-0
84 kg – Pedro J. Garcia (Spain) dec. Jordan Holm (USA #2), 4-0, 1-0
96 kg – Pete Gounaridis (USA #2) dec. Narek Setaghyan (Spain), 2-0, 4-0
120 kg – Brandon Rupp (USA #2) pinned Andres Bernardino (Spain), 6-0, 1:11

USA #1 6, ITALY 1
55 kg – Federico Manea (Italy) dec. Spenser Mango (USA #1), 2-0, 3-0
60 kg – Joe Betterman (USA #1) dec. Vincenzo Macri (Italy), 3-0, 1-0
66 kg – C.P. Schlatter (USA #1) dec. Tiziano Corriga (Italy) Dec 1-0,1-0
74 kg – Jake Fisher (USA #1) dec. Saverio Scaramuzzi (Italy), 3-0, 2-0
84 kg – Chas Betts (USA #1) dec. Vincenzo Scibilia (Italy), 1-0, 2-0
96 kg – Justin Ruiz (USA #1) dec. Daigoro Timoncini (Italy), 2-0, 3-0
120 kg – Dremiel Byers (USA #1) dec. Daniele Ficara Rocco (Italy), 1-0, 3-0

USA #3 6, SPAIN 1
55 kg – Joaquin Martinez (Spain) dec. Jermaine Hodge (USA #3), 1-0, 1-0
60 kg – Marco Lara (USA #3) won by forfeit
66 kg – Ellis Coleman (USA #3) dec. Oscar Parra (Spain), 2-0, 1-0
74 kg – Ben Provisor (USA #3) pinned Ricardo Gill (Spain), 0:49
84 kg – Cheney Haight (USA #3) dec. Pedro J. Garcia, 9-0, 2-1
96 kg – R.C. Johnson (USA #3) won by forfeit
120 kg – Rulon Gardner (USA #3) dec. Andres Bernardino (Spain), 4-0, 6-0

USA #4 4, ITALY 3
55 kg – Max Nowry (USA #4) dec. Federico Manea (Italy), 0-1, 3-2, 2-0
60 kg – Vincenzo Macri (Italy) dec. Joey Denova (USA #4), 1-0, 5-0
66 kg – Josh Castellano (USA #4) dec. Tiziano Corriga (Italy), 2-0, 1-0
74 kg – Tanner Andrews (USA #4) dec. Saverio Scaramuzzi (Italy), 3-0, 1-0
84 kg – Vincenzo Scibilia (Italy) dec. Mark Stenberg (USA #4), 1-0, 2-0
96 kg – Beniamino Scibilia (Italy) dec. Marcus Finau (USA #4), 1-0, 2-0
120 kg – Toby Erickson (USA #4) dec. Daniele Ficara Rocco (Italy), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0

USA #4 6, SPAIN 1
55 kg – Joaquin Martinez (Spain) dec. Max Nowry (USA #4), 0-2, 3-0, 2-0
60 kg – Jesse Thielke (USA #4) won by forfeit
66 kg – Josh Castellano (USA #4) dec. Oscar Parra (Spain) Dec 1-1,1-0,1-0
74 kg – Kendrick Sanders (USA #4) dec. Ricardo Gill (Spain) Dec 4-0, 2-0
84 kg – Zach Nielsen (USA #4) dec. Pedro J Garcia (Spain), 1-1, 3-3, 6-0
96 kg – Marcus Finau (USA #4) won by forfeit
120 kg – Toby Erickson (USA #4) pinned Andres Bernardino (Spain) Pin 4-3, 1:24

USA #3 6, ITALY 1
55 kg – Federico Manea (Italy) dec. Jermaine Hodge (USA #3), 0-1, 2-0, 2-0
60 kg – Marco Lara (USA #3) dec. Vincenzo Macri (Italy), 3-0, 1-0
66 kg – Tiziano Corriga (Italy) dec. Jimmy Chase (USA #3), 0-3, 5-0, 2-0
74 kg – Ben Provisor (USA #3) dec. Saverio Scaramuzzi (Italy), 1-0, 6-0
84 kg – Cheney Haight (USA #3) dec. Vincenzo Scibilia (Italy) Dec 2-0,0-1,2-0
96 kg – R.C. Johnson (USA #3) dec. Beniamino Scibilia (Italy), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0
120 kg – Rulon Gardner (USA #3) dec. Daniele Ficara Rocco (Italy), 3-0, 6-0

USA #1 7, INTERNATIONAL 0
55 kg – Spenser Mango (USA #1) dec. Joginder Singh (India) Dec 5-0,1-0
60 kg – Joe Betterman (USA #1) won by forfeit
66 kg – C.P. Schlatter (USA #1) dec. Sandeep Yadav (India), 2-1, 1-0
74 kg – Jake Fisher (USA #1) pinned Rajbir Chikara (India), 1:37
84 kg – Chas Betts (USA #1) won by forfeit
96 kg – Justin Ruiz (USA #1) won by forfeit
120 kg – Dremiel Byers (USA #1) def. Dharmender Dalal (India), 2-0, 1-0

USA #2 5, INDIA 2
55 kg – Rajinder Kumar (India) pinned Paul Tellgren (USA #2), 1-0, 1:12
60 kg – Jeremiah Davis (USA #2) dec. Anil Kumar (India), 4-1, 0-3, 2-0
66 kg – Sunil Rana (India) def. Glenn Garrison (USA #2), 1-0, 1-1, 2-0
74 kg – Andy Bisek (USA #2) def. Ravinder Khatri (India), 5-0, 7-0
84 kg – Jordan Holm (USA #2) dec. Manoj Kumar (India), 4-0, 1-0
96 kg – Pete Gounaridies (USA #2) dec. Ashok Kumar (India), 2-0, 1-0
120 kg – Brandon Rupp (USA #2) dec. Pal Rishi (India), 2-1, 1-0

USA #2 7, INTERNATIONAL 0
55 kg – Paul Tellgren (USA #2) won by forfeit
60 kg – Jeremiah Davis (USA #2) won by forfeit
66 kg – Glenn Garrison (USA #2) dec. Sandeep Yadav (India), 1-1, 2-1, 6-0
74 kg – Andy Bisek (USA #2) dec. Rajbir Chikara (India), 2-0, 3-0
84 kg – Jordan Holm (USA #2) won by forfeit
96 kg – Pete Gounaridis (USA #2) won by forfeit
120 kg – Brandon Rupp (USA #2) dec. Dharmender Dalal (India), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0

USA #1 5, INDIA 2
55 kg – Rajinder Kumar (India) dec. Spenser Mango (USA #1), 1-0, 4-0
60 kg – Joe Betterman (USA #1) won by forfeit
66 kg – C.P. Schlatter (USA #1) dec. Sunil Rana (India), 4-0, 4-1
74 kg – Ravinder Khatri (India) dec. Jake Fisher (USA #1), 2-0, 1-0
84 kg – Chas Betts (USA #1) won by forfeit
96 kg – Justin Ruiz (USA #1) pinned Ashok Kumar (India), 1:06
120 kg – Dremiel Byers (USA #1) dec. Pal Rishi (India), 3-0, 1-0