With the Olympics now in full swing, it is easy to forget about the athletes who have yet to start competing. Men’s and women’s gymnastics are done and Michael Phelps finished his swimming events — some in world-record time.

However, the U.S. wrestling teams are just getting started. Arriving in Athens, Greece, for the opening ceremonies, ISU wrestling figures Bobby Douglas, Chris Bono and Cael Sanderson have been overseas for almost two weeks without any competitive events.

Douglas, Iowa State’s head wrestling coach, is working with the Olympic team as an assistant coach. Bono, a former All-American at Iowa State and a current assistant coach for the Cyclones, is working as a training partner for former Iowa wrestler Joe Williams.

And Sanderson began his quest for an Olympic medal this morning.

In Ames, students as well as members of the ISU wrestling team said they have confidence that Sanderson will return home with a gold medal.

“I don’t think it matters who Cael has to wrestle,” said Doug Woolever, sophomore in construction engineering. “He’s our golden boy, and I think he’s the best wrestler in the world right now.”

Woolever also said he believes Sanderson is the clear-cut favorite in his weight class.

“Battling through college seasons, getting married and being so young has been a great disadvantage for him,” Woolever said. “Most of [his competitors] have been wrestling solely on the international level for a number of years. Now that he has had the opportunity to move past his college career, he should be able to contend for the gold.”

After losing to former Iowa wrestler Lee Fullhart at the U.S. Freestyle National Championships in April, Sanderson has been on a roll. He glided through the preliminary tournament at the U.S. Olympic qualification tournament and then beat Fullhart in two of three matches.

Two current ISU wrestlers — senior Nick Passolano and junior Grant Nakamura — said they aren’t surprised by Sanderson’s recent performances.

“Fullhart’s a tough wrestler,” Passolano said. “Cael knows he’s going to have a tough match anytime he wrestles him. Cael just went out there and wrestled his style and ended up winning the two matches he needed to win.”

Nakamura, the Cyclones’ 125-pounder, said he wasn’t surprised that Sanderson lost to Fullhart earlier in the year.

“Everybody loses,” Nakamura said. “Cael lost before he came to college, and he’ll lose some after college. He’s human, and people forget that sometimes.”

Sanderson was 159-0 and won four national titles at Iowa State.

With Sanderson a medal favorite, many Americans — especially those in Cyclone country — might be disappointed if he doesn’t win at least a bronze. Nakamura said that might not be fair.

“If Cael doesn’t win a medal, he’ll be disappointed,” Nakamura said. “But as long as he tries his hardest, everyone close to him will be proud of him.”

Passolano said he believes Sanderson will make ISU and wrestling fans proud no matter what the outcome on the mat.