Olympic wrestling champion Rulon Gardner of the United States is recovering from frostbite after spending a night lost in the snowy backcountry of Wyoming. Gardner was listed in fair condition Monday in a hospital in Idaho state, but he faces the possible amputation of the toes on one foot and the end of his wrestling career.

Gardner was out for a snowmobile ride last Thursday evening in Wyoming's Star Valley when he became separated from a friend while trying to climb a ridge in deep snow. While trying to find his way home, Gardner fell into an icy river, which he tried to cross several times looking for a way out. He spent the night in a cluster of trees, avoiding long periods of sleep to fight off possible death.

The wrestler was spotted by a search plane early the next day and was later rescued by a helicopter. His body temperature had dropped to 31 degrees when he was found, caked with ice.

In the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Gardner stunned Russian Alexander Karelin, 1-0, to win the gold medal. Karelin had not lost an international match in 13 years.

Gardner says he hopes for a full recovery and a return to wrestling.

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