CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Olympic wrestling champion Rulon Gardner was in satisfactory condition Thursday after having one of his toes amputated.

Doctors at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls said they were optimistic Gardner will not lose any more toes due to frostbite he suffered while stranded overnight in the Wyoming backcountry.

A local anesthetic was used and Gardner remained awake for the operation, during which doctors also removed three pins that were placed in Gardner's left foot during a skin graft on March 19.

Dr. Timothy Thurman said Gardner's left foot was "looking good" and he was expected to leave the hospital Thursday.

It remained uncertain how losing the middle toe of his right foot will affect Gardner's career.

Gardner, 30, is the world Greco-Roman wrestling champion. He won gold at the Sydney Olympics by beating Alexander Karelin, a Russian who had not lost an international match in 13 years.

Gardner was stranded in the woods Feb. 14 when his snowmobile bogged down near his hometown of Afton. He spent 17 hours outside in temperatures that dipped to 25 below zero and was found with a body temperature of 88 and his feet frozen.

Gardner was released from the hospital Feb. 28 but has been back several times for treatments, including time in a hyperbaric chamber to speed healing by breathing pure oxygen.