Undefeated in college and four-time national champion — check. Olympic gold medal — check. Being called by your coach the reason “wrestling may survive in the 21st century” — check.

What’s next for Cael Sanderson? Will he continue to wrestle?

“I can’t really say right now,” he said. “If I get that fire and I want to go for another one, I’ll definitely do it.”

To celebrate his 84-kg freestyle gold in Athens, Greece, Sanderson went fishing for two weeks and returned to Ames on Friday for a ceremony honoring his triumph over the world of wrestling.

After an opening from the “Voice of the Cyclones” John Walters, Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco honored Cael in a way only the mayor of Ames could.

“I, Ted Tedesco, [and] the city of Ames, Iowa, do hereby declare Friday, Sept. 17, 2004, is Cael Sanderson Day in the city of Ames,” Tedesco said.

Etched into the history books and now into Ames law, Sanderson has left a great impact upon the Ames community, Iowa State University and the Cyclone wrestling team.

Coaching partner and Iowa State teammate Chris Bono said Sanderson is at the top of the Cyclone wrestling tradition.

“He definitely showed everybody how to work, and that’s the bottom line of our program,” Bono said. “We’re just lucky he’s done it all through hard work. These guys see how much work he’s put in and know that’s what it takes.”

ISU head coach and 2004 Olympic assistant coach Bobby Douglas said Sanderson adds a new dimension to the ISU wrestling team.

“He generates a tremendous amount of energy for [the team],” Douglas said. “He’s so creative that I’m motivated and always looking for something new and cutting-edge. He keeps me up to speed.”

At the welcoming ceremony, Sanderson thanked the crowd for coming and for its support before, during and after his victory in Athens.

“I didn’t expect many people to be here,” Sanderson said. “It really means a lot, and I know I had a lot of support back in the state when I was over there. It really [gave me] the strength and everything [I needed] to give the best performance.”

Looking toward the future, Douglas said Sanderson has imprinted himself as the statuesque figure of American wrestling for years to come.

“He’s the future role model for wrestling in America,” he said. “He’s done more for American wrestling than any wrestler in the history of the sport. And because of Cael Sanderson, wrestling may survive in the 21st century.”

That’s some heady pressure. But pressure’s nothing new to Sanderson. He said he has always had a pretty good way of keeping things in perspective — his wife.

“She was supportive when I needed support, and she told me I needed to suck it up and quit being a sissy when I needed to suck it up and quit being a sissy,” Sanderson said.

Though unsure of whether he will compete any more on the mats, Sanderson said he has always had the urge to coach and that it has been his plan for a long time.

“I love the sport of wrestling,” Sanderson said. “I love what it does to people and what it takes to be successful, and I definitely would like to share that and help people reach their goals.”

Sanderson has a great deal of support behind his coaching venture.

“I’ve looked up to him since I got on campus,” said sophomore wrestler Kurt Backes. “Him being with the team gives us a real edge.”

Douglas said there was never a doubt Sanderson had the ability to become an Olympic champion.

“Cael possesses the heart of a champion, and a champion will find a way to win,” Douglas said.

Sanderson said preparing himself mentally for the trip to Athens served as a way to motivate himself for greatness.

“I’ve always planned on winning a gold medal, and I think that is something that helped me out a lot when I was in Athens,” he said. “I knew this was what I wanted to do, and I knew it was my responsibility to get it done.”

Douglas said Sanderson’s performance was also fueled by his desire while training.

“We have a mountain out in Colorado Springs we run,” Douglas said. “I had a conversation with Cael. It was at a time where we were taking a break, and he told me what his training plans were. I knew that if he kept up his training plans that he would win the gold medal.”