Dan Gable drove himself sweating and panting up a mile-long hill on a scorching afternoon as if it were 1972 and dreams of Olympic gold floated through his mind.

After the run, he drew a circle on the dusty country road and struck a familiar stance against an imaginary foe.

The scars on his damaged knees turned bright red and glistened in the blazing sun. As always, Dan Gable was ready for combat.

"I love wrestling - it's my whole life. Only my family comes before it," said the man who commonly is called "the greatest wrestler in U.S. history."