Dave and Ginger Kingman of Dolores area are certainly proud of their nephew.

All the young man did was pull off one of the greatest upsets in Greco-Roman wrestling history at the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games.

Their nephew is Rulon Gardner who beat Alexander Karelin, a Russian wrestler who had won three consecutive gold medals. Karelin had not lost a match since 1986, 14 years as the undisputed wrestling champion of the world. Just one more gold medal would prove him to be the greatest wrestler of the modern era. However, Gardner, who had lost to Karelin easily a couple years earlier, defeated him in the gold medal match 1-0 (escape).

Karelin was chiseled and was confident. His looks are hard and intimidating. He's known for the move called "the reverse lift," in which he locks both hands around the midsection of the opponent, hoists his opponent over his shoulder, and then throws him so he lands on the back of his head. But Gardner stayed with Karelin and won.

"We watched the match on NBC-TV," Ginger said after returning from a homecoming held in Afton, Wyo., a few days ago. "I think the Russian was just overconfident. I don’t think he thought he was going to have any trouble against Rulon. But it was Rulon’s defense that won him the match. I think the win surprised the whole world."

Since Gardner began Greco-Roman wrestling, he had fared no better than any other wrestler in the world against Karelin. Rulon had been the victim of the "reverse lift" three times in 1997, the last time the two met in international competition.

Pressure changes performance. Under pressure, some athletes fold because they are not mentally tough enough. Their internal negative self-images are too difficult to overcome. Other athletes are pushed to achievements they have never reached before and that’s exactly what Gardner did.

"Rulon was in such good shape going into the Olympics," Ginger said.

Gardner had several factors working for him on his fateful day at the Olympics, according to Ginger.

His family supported him. More than 20 family members made the trip to Sydney, while friends tended the farm in Wyoming, but Ginger and Dave were not able to go but watched the games on television like most Americans.

Gardner was able to move to the highest level of achievement, and was able to at least neutralize his weaknesses. He was able to turn his weaknesses into strengths. Gardner, who was called "Fatso" as a youth turned to wrestling and became stronger and bigger. Being a farmer in the mountains meant his cardiovascular system was equivalent to that of a marathon runner in a huge body.

Gardner returned to his farm in Wyoming with his gold medal.