The newest power in Olympic Greco-Roman super heavyweight wrestling is the United States. For the last three years, athletes from the USA have won the gold medal at this weight class, a winning streak that will be put to the test again this year.    Sports legend Rulon Gardner, who upset the previously unbeaten Alexander Kareline of Russia in the finals of the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, followed up his glorious victory with a World Championships gold medal in 2001. Last year, with Gardner sidelined with injuries from severe frostbite, Dremiel Byers earned the right to compete at the World Championships and had a tremendous performance in winning the World gold medal.    The three-year dominance of American big men does not match the Soviet/Russian gold-medal streak from 1987-1999, but it is something of tremendous pride for the USA program. Gardner defeated Byers in the World Team Trials this year, a terrific three-match series, and will again represent the USA at the World meet. If Gardner is not yet at 100% since his injuries, he has clearly regained his world-class abilities and fighting spirit.    The top challenger in this division has been Mihaly Deak-Bardos of Hungary, who Gardner beat in the 2001 finals and Byers beat in the 2002 finals. Deak-Bardos has won three World silver medals, meaning he is great enough to make the gold-medal round but not able to win it all yet. He was second in the 2003 European Championships and claimed the gold medal at the Pytlasinski Tournament in Poland in August, an indication that he remains one of the best in the world.    Russia has placed its hopes on talented Yuri Patrikeev, who was third in the 2002 World Championships. Gardner beat Patrikeev in the quarterfinals of the 2001 World Championships, a tremendous match between two star athletes.  Russia has a few other options at this division. Khassan Baroev was seventh at the 2003 European Championships. Alexei Kolesnikov, a past European placewinner, plus Alexei Tarabarine and Vladislav Kokoev are also top big men. If Russia does not enter Patrikeev, expect that his replacement will be just as tough and prepared.    One of the top veterans in the meet should be Sergei Mourieko of Bulgaria, who boasts four career World-level medals, including an Olympic bronze medal in the 1996 Atlanta Games. Mourieko did not place in the top 10 at the World meet last year, and was a disappointing 10th at the European Championships this year. It is still premature to say that Mourieko is over the hill, and those who face him in France had better be prepared for a great battle. Mourieko was second behind Bardos in the Pytlasinki Tournament in August, an indication that he should be in top form.    Perhaps the hottest wrestler on the world scene right now is young Mijian Lopez of Cuba, who has defeated both Gardner and Byers this year in some high-profile competitions. Lopez is big, strong and fast, and has a world-class gut wrench turn. His confidence is high after defeating the USA World champions, but he needs to show those skills at the World meet now. Lopez was sixth in the 2001 World meet, his best finish to date. This could be the year that Lopez emerges as a true star in international Greco-Roman wrestling.    The 2003 European champion was Juha Ahokas of Finland, easily the greatest achievement of his career. Ahokas has competed on the international circuit for many years, but has yet to have a great World Championships performance.     Winning the bronze medal at the 2003 European Championships was rising star Xenofon Koutsioubas of Greece, who was third at the 2001 World Championships and fourth at the 2002 World Championships. With the Olympic Games in Greece next year, you can expect Koutsioubas to be the athlete that carries the pride of Greek wrestling forward, with tremendous pressure and support from his countryfolk.    Every year, big Juri Yevseychyc of Israel is a medal contender. He placed fourth in the 2000 Olympic Games, losing a close semifinals match to Gardner. He was also beaten by Gardner in the 2001 World Championships. Last year, Yevseychyc was sixth in the World meet. He is coming off a sixth place at the European Championships and a bronze medal at the Pytlasinski Tournament.    Turkey is well represented by Fatih Bakir, who was eighth at the 2000 Olympics. Bakir was fourth at the 2003 European Championships and second in the European meet in 2001. Turkey also boasts the 2003 Junior World Champion at this division, Yavuz Guevendi.    The top three athletes at the 2003 Asian Championships were gold medalist Georgi Tsursumia of Kazakhstan, silver medalist Park Woo of Korea and bronze medalist Ali Reza Gharibi of Iran. Tsurtsumia was fifth in the world competing for Georgia in 2001, then placed eighth in the world competing for Kazakhstan in 2002. Gharibi was ninth in the 2001 World Championships.    This weight class has a variety of veterans, all who are capable of making it to the medal rounds. They include past World placewinners Helger Hallik of Estonia, Giuseppe Guinta of Italy, Roe Klieve of Norway, Nico Schmidt of Germany, Eddy Bengtsson of Sweden and David Vala of the Czech Republic.     Winning the super heavyweight gold medal is a very big achievement, and is widely respected around the sports world. Gardner looks to continue the United States dominance at this division, but will need to show the world that he is fully recovered from his well-publicized injuries. Deak-Bardos of Hungary is seeking his first World title, after taking second to Americans for two straight years. Russia's Patrikeev hopes to create his own identity by winning a World title, and possibly escaping from the shadow of Kareline. Talents such as Koutsioubas of Greece and Mourieko of Bulgaria are fully capable of winning it all. As usual, this should be a fantastic battle for the medals.    RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS    2002 World Championships results   120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Gold - Dremiel Byers (United States) dec. Mihaly Deak-Bardos (Hungary), 3-0; Bronze - Yuri Patrikeev (Russia) dec. Xenofon Koutsioubas (Greece), 9-4; 5th - Helger Hallik (Estonia); 6th -Yuriy Yevseychek (Israel); 7th - Giuseppe Giunta (Italy); 8th - Georgiy Tsurtsumia (Kazakhstan); 9th - Roe Kleive (Norway); 10th - Nico Schmidt (Germany)    2001 World Championships results     130 kg/286 lbs. - Gold  - Rulon Gardner (United States) won by ref. dec. over Mihaly Deak-Bardos (Hungary), 2-0, ot; Bronze - Xenofon Koutsoubas (Greece) dec. Sergei Mourieko (Bulgaria), 8-0; 5th - George Tsurtsumia (Georgia); 6th - Mijain Lopez (Cuba); 7th - Eddy Bengtsson (Sweden); 8th - Yuri Patrikeev (Russia); 9th - Alireza Gharibi (Iran); 10th - David Vala (Czech Republic)    2000 Olympic Games results   130 kg/286 lbs. - Gold - Rulon Gardner (USA) won by ref. dec. over Alexandre Kareline (Russia), 1-0, ot, 9:00; Bronze - Demitri Debelka (Belarus) won by ref. dec. over Juri Yevseychyc (Israel), 1-0, ot, 9:0; 5th - Hector Milian (Cuba); 6th - Georgiy Saldadze (Ukraine); 7th - Giuseppe Giunta (Italy); 8th - Fatih Bakir (Turkey); 9th - David Vala (Czech Republic); 10th -Eddy Bengtsson (Sweden); 11th - Mihaly Deak-Bardos (Sweden); 12th - Rafael Barreno (Venezuela); 13th - Haykaz Galstyan (Armenia); 14th - Hailin Zhao (China); 15th - Omrane Ayari (Tunisia); 16th - Helger Hallik (Estonia); 17th - Marek Sitnik (Poland); 18th - Laszlo Kovacs (Australia); 19th - Sergey Moreyko (Bulgaria); 20th - Miriani Giorgadze (Georgia)    Starting September 22, TheMat.com will preview one weight class each day for the 2003 World Championships of Greco-Roman Wrestling, in Cretiel, France, Oct. 2-5. 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