1996 OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALIST MATT GHAFFARI RETURNS TO THE MATS, TO COMPETE IN THE 1998 U.S. NATIONAL WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS 
  
  
 1996 Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling silver medalist Matt Ghaffari (Avon Lake, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) will return to competition this weekend for the first time since the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga. 
   
  
 Ghaffari will compete in the Greco-Roman competition at the 1998 U.S. National Wrestling Championships, which will be held at Disney¹s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., April 25-26.  
   
  
 He received international attention during the Atlanta Olympics after an impressive performance at the 130 kg/286 lbs. weight class. Ghaffari lost a tight 1-0 overtime decision in the gold-medal finals to superstar Alexander Karelin of Russia, a three-time Olympic champion who has never lost a match. 
   
  
 Ghaffari, who cried on the awards stand during the medal ceremony, was one of the memorable athletes of the 1996 Olympics. He also participated in a number of public service and humanitarian activities during and after the Olympic Games. 
   
  
 He moved back to the Cleveland area after the 1996 Olympics, and worked as an assistant wrestling coach at his alma mater, Cleveland State.  
   
  
 Ghaffari injured his knee in training in early 1997, and missed the entire season with reconstructive surgery. It was the ninth knee surgery of his career. He has been training for six months in preparation for his return to competition. 
   
  
 ³I want to do the best that I can,² said Ghaffari. ³I want to be a World and Olympic Champion. My intention was never to retire after the Atlanta Olympics.² 
   
  
 ³I am having fun and am physically fit. Wrestling is a big part of my life. Not competing at the U.S. Nationals last year bothered me. I want to be there this year and do well,² he said. 
   
  
 Ghaffari is one of the most successful Greco-Roman wrestlers in U.S. history. He was a silver medalist in the 1991 World Championships and claimed a bronze medal at the 1995 World Championships.  
   
  
 He was also a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team. Ghaffari has won five U.S. Nationals titles and competed on five U.S. World teams. He is the only U.S. wrestler to win gold medals at the Greco-Roman World Cup four times. 
   
  
 He is originally from Paramus, N.J., and attended Farleigh Dickinson University and Cleveland State University. He was a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete for two years prior to the 1996 Olympic Games. 
   
  
 Ghaffari¹s top competition at the 1998 U.S. Nationals is expected to be No. 1 ranked Rulon Gardner (Gilbert, Ariz./Sunkist Kids). Gardner is the defending U.S. Nationals champion, and placed fifth in the 1997 Greco-Roman World Championships, the top U.S. performance.