By STEVE BUFFERY -- Toronto Sun
  SYDNEY -- A couple of hours before his gold-medal match, Canadian wrestler Daniel Igali had a dream about Maureen Metheny, his surrogate mother who died just days after he won the 1999 world championship.

 It was a beautiful, golden dream.

 "The last words that she said to me (were) I'm very proud of you," an emotional Igali said after defeating Russian Arsen Gitinov early this morning to become Canada's first Olympic gold medallist in wrestling. "And I woke up after that and I was just pumped and I was ready to go. She told me she was going to be here and she has never broken a promise. I'm very positive she was here tonight."

 Igali, 26, entered the Olympic Games with the weight of the world on his shoulders, one of which -- the left -- was sore throughout the tournament. As the defending world champion, the Nigerian-born wrestler was the main target of all the competitors in the 69-kilogram freestyle division. He also carried the flag for an under-achieving Canadian team at these Games and a national federation that has struggled in recent years with a lack of funds.

 But the Surrey, B.C., athlete came through in remarkable fashion, defeating the crafty Gitinov 7-4 after winning his quarter- and semi-final matches earlier in the day in overtime. After receiving his gold medal, Igali broke down in tears and could barely lift his head. He wept throughout the playing of O Canada, wiping away the tears with the Canadian flag. In the seconds following his jubilant victory, an overwhelmed Igali placed a Canadian flag on the mat, knelt down, kissed it and then ran around it.

 "Putting it down and running around was saying I made a complete cycle. Six years ago (I came to Canada) and I've realized all my dreams. So I had to make a lap around to show that I've come full round," said Igali, who expresses his love for Canada whenever he gets the chance. Born in Eniwari, Nigeria, Igali grew up in poverty, the sixth of 21 children who slept three to a bed and ate four to a plate. He credits his impoverished beginnings with his fierce survival instinct.

 "Defintely," said the personable wrestler, who claimed refugee status after the 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games. "I grew up in a very rough situation as a kid and I always had to struggle to survive from my early youth. And that has actually toughened me up.

 "I'm just so glad, I wanted to win this badly," Igali said. "I wanted to prove I could stand with the best in the world and be the best on the night.

 Igali, who relies on speed and balance to overtake his opponents, demonstrated a remarkable cool over Gitinov, 23, the 1997 world junior champion. The Burnaby Mt. Wrestling Club athlete jumped into a 3-0 lead after getting a point for control and two for exposure, but Gitinov fought back to tie the score at 4-4. With seconds left in the second round, Igali turned the Russian and went up 6-4 and then 7-4 on control. In the three matches leading up to the final, including a 6-3 win in the semis over American rival Lincoln McIlravy, whom he defeated for the gold at the 1999 worlds, Igali triumphed in extra time.

 His coolness completely awed the knowledgeable fans at the Sydney Convention Centre, and the quiet Canadian soon became a crowd favourite, especially with Iranian and Turkish supporters.

 "I was composed and physically and mentally very well prepared for this tournament," he said. "I was ready and God helped pull this through today."

 "He showed a lot of guts and integrity to keep it together, not to get ahead of himself," coach Dave McKay said.

 "This is huge and what I'm hoping is this is a start for us and our sport and for young Canadians to believe we can do it."