Rulon Gardner: Seven things you need to know about the Olympic champ In January 2011, he was announced as a contestant on season 11 of the American reality television show, The Biggest Loser. In 2004, he won a bronze medal at the Olympics. After the Athens Olympics, Rulon had gained 210 pounds, culminating in total body weight of 474 pounds. In track and field, as a senior, he took second at the state finals in the shot put. He talks to the state qualifiers about visualizing their day. Afton welcomed hometown hero Rulon . Swift. A former Husker and gold-medal winner is getting back onto the wrestling mat. How much does he weigh now? The men swam an hour in 44F (7C) water to reach shore, and then spent the night without shelter. One of his lightweights catches an elbow in the wrong spot and blood pours from his nose, seeping into his warm-up shirt and splattering on the crowded mat. Rulon still feels his match against Aleksandr Karelin every day. On December 31, 2004, Gardner fought Hidehiko Yoshida in a judo vs wrestling mixed martial arts (MMA) bout for the Pride Fighting Championships at an event named PRIDE Shockwave 2004. Someday those details may come out. Some of the unwelcome nicknames given to him included Dumbo, and later Fatso due to his size. The success I had in wrestling, which I learned on the farm, now I use it in the insurance business and in the wrestling community. After Olympic High, Bankruptcy Low, Rulon Gardner Now Wrestles With [7], After the Athens Olympics, Gardner gained 210 pounds, culminating in a total body weight of 474 pounds. Despite facing such dramatic odds against the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler of all time, he decided to try and win gold to silence his doubters. American Olympian who competed in the 2000 Olympic games in Greco-Roman wrestling, winning a gold medal in the 130 kg weight class. Gardner competed once in mixed martial arts and in 2005 he became the host for a professional wrestling league called Real Pro Wrestling. The three men swam for more than an hour in 44-degree water to reach the shore. Who was bullied and teased as he. What Rulon Gardner Has Been Up (and Down) to - Sports Illustrated When he was an active athlete, he never took a day off. weight class at the 1993 NCAA Championships, earning All-American honors. He clips his ID to a carpenter loop on his pants. No, not that match. He graduated from the University of NebraskaLincoln with a bachelor's degree in physical education. Gardner put out statements after the episode aired, too, saying hed achieved his goal and was ready to go home to his wife. Just quit. Im like, no, Im not gonna quit. This time Gardner stayed upright, and the two massive men danced chest-to-chest through a scoreless three-minute first period. Part of that, he concedes, was because nothing helped him keep his weight down like wrestling. 2 immediately begins. While some of Rulons own wrestlers may essentially be over it, others in the arena are more starstruck by the presence of an all-time great. He says that hearing the anthem play, especially in a gym full of wrestlers, always takes him back to that moment atop the podium in Sydneywith Rulon on the top step, and the Russian Bear, incredibly, below. Many of the news headlines written about him since 2012 focused on his bankruptcy filing, the result of a fraud case, and a quest to recoup his gold medal, which he couldnt afford to bring back into his possession. He gives the impression that hed recall the date even if Valentines Day werent an easy one to remember. That's all because of Rulon, right there, he said. And he was searching for that mindset again. Its an interesting twist, being both the new guy and the celebrity. One, two, three, state titles!. These injuries included an amputated toe and a dislocated wrist, but he still went on to win the U.S. Olympic trials for his weight class and then to compete in the 2004 Summer Olympics. [2] Karelin was previously unbeaten for 13 years in international competition. He already had a relationship with NBC, working as a TV commentator for the networks coverage of the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The youngest of nine children, Rulon Gardner was born to Reed and Virginia Gardner on August 16, 1971. Thats the stark reality. I surprised myself probably more than them.. Youve gotta be a man! The sun is starting to set. In 2005, Gardner published his autobiography (co-written by Bob Schaller), Never Stop Pushing: My Life from a Wyoming Farm to the Olympic Medals Stand. He wants to convince every college recruiter to give his kids a shot, and a head start on the rest of their lives. During his efforts to regain his composure and regroup, he fell into the freezing Salt River with his snowmobile. Turns out, it was the first miracle of many. To see him put his head down and feel loss [I felt] happiness, but also sorrow, Rulon says. [21], Gardner served as an analyst for NBC Sports coverage of Wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Rulon Gardner's income source is mostly from being a successful Wrestler. Gardner, trained by Bas Rutten, won the bout via unanimous decision. Im happy.. His coworker at JRI, Lydia Woltjen, jokes that shes sure to wear a seatbelt when Rulon is driving. Once they eventually make their way down from the bleachers and warm up, after the announcer over the loudspeaker instructs everyone to clear the mats, Rulon gathers them in the holding area and offers some last-minute reminders. The Denver Nuggets took a 1-0 lead over the Suns after defeating Phoenix 124-107 on Saturday. Rulon's weight has fluctuated again since then, but has most recently lost 30lbs (13kg), thanks to his new personal trainer and cutting refined sugars and processed food out from his diet. When youre famous, he says matter-of-factly, people just give you stuff.. After the speeches, assistant coach Rad Martinez gathers everyone in the center of the mat. That was just a small dumbbell shy of 500. In 2007, Gardner survived a plane crash by swimming for more than an hour in 44-degree water. As hes unpacked boxes in his new home and found items he barely remembers receiving, some have made it to JRI. As yesterdays scene repeats, with wrestlers from various schools swarming the mats to get loose, Herrimans two heavier weights are nowhere to be seen. He used rigorous, hours-long workouts to keep his weight in check . Despite sealing victory and a healthy paycheck as the underdog, Gardner decided to finish his MMA career then and there, as the sport didnt carry the same honour for him as wrestling. He got married in October 2020, has lost around 50lbs (22.5kg) in weight, and recently moved to St. George, Utah, where he hopes to start a youth wrestling training centre. Months after winning his gold medal, Rulon's toe was amputated . And all the accomplishments that hes had, and all the stories that he tells, it all couldnt happen to a better person. Im not happy about it. As a pro boxer, she identified with his wrestler mentality. After the failed comeback attempt in 2012, he even came back to the peacock, working again for NBCs coverage of those London Games from their New York City office. Rulon came back to the Olympics in 2004 to defend his title and took home the Bronze medal. Jan. 28, 2011 12 AM PT. But behind the scenes, he says it was miserable. There are two lightweights and two heavyweights, making for convenient practice partners. [1] In 2010, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member. At one point, he became separated from the group. Sports Illustrated is here! he tells him. In 2007, Rulon and two friends crashed a lightweight aircraft into Lake Powell, Utah. Rulon raves about Lydia, who has years of experience working in the Utah Insurance Department, and he alternately calls her both the brains and the muscle of the operation. Finally, its time. The night before the tournament, he stopped at a buffet restaurant for dinner. Rulon Gardner - Popular Bio Since making Olympic history in 2000, the wrestler has battled his share of adversity. Gardner has a little car and a little traveling companion: Gus. The two coaches are animated as their wrestler gets on the scoreboard first, both coaches standing throughout the match. If I turn my mind on and do it, I'll do it. They dim the lights and extend the lower level of the bleachers, with extra rows of yellow seats now closer to the action. He tells everyone to put their hands in. is 6 2 and Weight 265lbs. In 2011, he accepted an offer to appear on American reality TV show The Biggest Loser, in an attempt to shed some of his 474lbs (215kg). People think, Oh, Rulon Gardner is a fraud. Or, Rulon Gardner is not trustworthy. They dont realize that sometimes its not you, its other people around you., Gardners quest to win back his medal became fodder for the press, but coverage just looped it in with his well-known financial issues. Sometimes crazy stuff happens. Even though it was one of the things that almost killed me, it was truly amazing. In 2002, Rulon faced a serious life-threatening situation. . He thinks about his journey the past 20 years. Photo Credit: NBCNews.com Many details concerning Jeffs' wives are not known as a majority of them still keep to themselves and are not vocal about their FLDS lives. Thankfully, Rulon's mom and dad were always telling him that with prayer and persistence he could find the strength to do anything. Both will advance to Day 2, starting with the semifinals in the morning, two wins away from the top spot on the podium. He has appeared at corporate events, celebrity golf tournaments, trade shows, and conventions. His next close shave came in 2007, when he survived a crash in a light aircraft. Rulon Gardner is crammed into the drivers seat of a 2006 Volkswagen Beetle. The specifics, he says, he really cant get into. Consider those client recruitment days anyway, with Coach Rulon happily passing along his fliers to a steady stream of coaches, parents, tournament officials and others eager to chat him up between matches. Yoshida, in addition to being an Olympic gold medalist in judo, was a highly successful MMA fighter. He was no slouch. After an FBI investigation, she pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering and was sentenced to 34 months in prison. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. He and his first wife Sheri lost their daughter, Stacey in a terrible car accident on December 26, 1990. [9], When Gardner was in elementary school, he was injured during a class show-and-tell, when his abdomen was punctured with an arrow.[10]. From Allstate telling you to prepare for mayhem, to State Farm handling a series of calamities at Chris Pauls house to Farmers dealing with any nightmare scenario J.K. Simmons can conjure. He was an All-State selection in both football and wrestling, and was also the 1989 Wyoming wrestling state heavyweight champion. Because I learned so much about myself. Rulon even gave him his phone number so they could text each other. Gardner is a thrill-seeker, and later on that year was involved in a motorcycle accident. The branch is independent, meaning they can sell policies through multiple insurance companies. He pops his head in the back of the room, looking out at the men and women in business attire, sitting in rows and staring ahead at a PowerPoint presentation about the insurance industry. Everyone just wants Rulon to be healthy. On the other side is all of Rulons professional contact info and a list of insurance brands they hawkand guess what Rulon signs every time somebody bugs him for an autograph. He loves working with kids to help them achieve their greatest success. I need to stop saying it and start doing it. It's been 20 years since Gardner, a 2,000-to-1 underdog, beat three-time gold medalist. Thats his daily motivation. STARTING OVER: "Loser" Rulon Gardner won the gold medal in 2004. Regain my work ethic. Currently Gardner is missing a tooth, the incisor to the right of his two front teeth. He and his first wife Sheri lost their daughter, Stacey in a terrible car accident on December 26, 1990. They clear the floor and the jumbotron hanging from the ceiling lists which bouts will begin on which mats. They relocate to Lydias desk in the main entryway. Former Husker wrestler Rulon Gardner attempting comeback With the video paused, Gardner meanders through one of the most improbable sporting stories ever, about a kid who grew up milking cows on a Wyoming farm. The Olympic Channel original film will premiere digitally on Friday, 2 April 2021 on OlympicChannel.com and the official Olympic Channel apps for mobile and connected TV devices. My parrot, Gardner jokes. My voice is a little scraggly because I care, he tells them, to some polite chuckles. Theres just one catch: He has so many autographed items, he doesnt know who signed many of them. Jack gets out to an early lead, but is pinned despite being ahead in points. The youngest of nine children, Rulon Gardner was born to Reed and Virginia Gardner on August 16, 1971. Rulon Gardner, a 2000 Olympic wrestling champion, is not competing in Greco-Roman at this week's U.S. Open despite registering for the event, which would have been his first meet in more than a . Hundreds of wrestlers are running around, stretching or sparring to warm up. Even if a mat is just an inch or two thick, a full day of stepping on and off of them can lead to a few missteps. Rulon says one of the images that stands out from that day was in the final second of the match, when both wrestlers knew it was over. Im at a low point now. School was a struggle for Rulon due to a learning disability. He says Bob wanted to stay in touch and keep helping him live healthier. He thinks about headlines in the Star Valley Independent, back in his hometown in Wyoming that was so happy to claim him when things were going well. Share Twenty years ago at the Sydney Olympics, Greco-Roman wrestler Rulon Gardner pulled off one of the biggest upsets in sports history. He then went on wrestle in Lincoln, finishing as an All-American in 1993 for the Huskers. He briefly loses his lead, then pulls back ahead and coasts through the final period to a state championship. Its a fairly light dayjust 15 minutes of drilling, followed by two full six-minute matches for each wrestler, same as theyll go tomorrow at States, with just 30 seconds between periods. Hes picked up yet another job, as an ambassador and spokesman for an app that helps promote workplace safety for construction sites and other heavy industry jobs. All those people who told me I could never get here and get on this stage, Im going to show them. Feet First After a snowmobile mishap left him ravaged by frostbite and The astonishing true story of Rulon Gardner, a dairy farmer from Wyoming who shocked the world at the Sydney Olympics, overcoming 2000 to 1 odds by defeating a Russian wrestler who hadn't lost a single match in 13 years. But he has never wavered in his commitment to motivatingwhether its young wrestlers, those in the business world or, not least of all, himself. Rulon doesnt go up the stairs to his seat during the break, opting instead to stay in the holding pen. Rulon Gardner does not compete after registering for comeback wrestling Rulons ascendance was a once-in-a-generation confluence of natural strength, work ethic and a burning desire to get off the farm. In just one year, he went through rehabilitation and was back on the mat. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Rulon Gardner caused one of the greatest upsets in Olympic wrestling history when he won gold at Olympic Games Sydney 2000. She showed him real estate purchase agreements, contracts and more. He is 48 now, sells insurance and has a second job coaching wrestling at a Salt Lake City-area high school. As he weaves around trucks, zipping up I-15 North through Provo, Utah, he may be the biggest human on the highway,. He pulls into a parking lot surrounded by snow-covered peaks, leaves Gus in the car and steps into the chilly mountain air in his gym shorts. Another client comes out of a meeting with one of Rulons coworkers, and on the way out the door he spots the heavyweight. Everyone is focused, with the pressure of lifelong individual dreams, team titles and possibly college scholarships on the line. Its about that time, Rulon says. Cows roam beyond a fence in his backyard, visible from a driveway that runs alongside his house to a fleet of cars in the backa Ford Excursion, Ford F-250, Dodge Durango and the beloved VW Beetle. After the 2000 Olympics he suffered a series of injuries from both a snowmobiling and motorcycle accident. Rulon Ellis Gardner (born August 16, 1971) is an American retired Greco-Roman wrestler. And he seems fine with the arrangement. After the finals, the arena lights come on and the whole Herriman cheering section swarms the group on the floor. As he weaves around trucks, zipping up I-15 North through Provo, Utah, he may be the biggest human on the highway, packed into one of the tiniest vehicles. The wrestler has almost lost his life several times. Aside from his Olympic medals, his achievements include: Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on Saturday night for their first NHL playoff series win in nearly two decades. But he estimates his weight is about where he started on Loser. Rulon Gardner - Wikipedia Its fitting that Gardner sells insurance. But wrestling was the route Rulon decided to focus on. Officially, Rulon is coaching four kids at States. But hes a recognizable customer, and several other diners came up to tell Rulon they were fans or he was an inspiration as they passed by his table on their way to and from the buffet. After retiring from his event by adding a bronze medal in the Athens 2004 Olympics, Rulon the wrecking ball Gardner accepted an invitation to compete in a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) bout. Due to the physical damage, a saw had to be used to remove his boots. KBIE-FM / KNCY-AM 1600 AM | 911 Central Ave. | Nebraska City, NE 68410. So, how much is Rulon Gardner worth at the age of 52 years old? I was a good wrestler, but I want to be a better coach than I ever was as a wrestler.. The Real Housewives of Atlanta The Bachelor Sister Wives 90 Day Fiance Wife Swap The Amazing Race Australia Married at First Sight The Real Housewives of Dallas My 600-lb Life Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. All Rights Reserved. But thats how the story has always gone. [2] Karelin was previously unbeaten for 13 years in international competition. Each mat is set up the same. As Rulon Gardner competes to lose big on television, his Afton Few knew the ironic twist, the only reason he even had a chance to earn back his medal. The arena explodes as the referee slaps the mat to signal a pin, and Rulon claps excitedly. In the new Olympic Channel documentary Rulon, the Wyoming native shares his personal journey, from humble roots growing up on a dairy farm to finding fame, and how his resilience helped him to overcome adversity, and multiple near-death experiences. He was raised on a dairy farm in Wyoming, where the family grew crops and milked cows twice a day. A few months later, Rulon shared that hes been doing well. Its Day 2 of the state tourney. [8] Gardner shocked the trainers, staff, and contestants on the April 26 episode by announcing he would be leaving the show "for personal reasons", and left the show without a final weigh-in. Perhaps most importantly, in this whole arrangement, is that the company is accommodating of his schedule. [24], On December 31, 2004, Gardner fought Hidehiko Yoshida in a judo vs wrestling mixed martial arts (MMA) bout for the Pride Fighting Championships at an event named PRIDE Shockwave 2004. Its the second week of February and Coach Gardnerhis kids just call him Rulonhas four high-schoolers in the Utah 6A State Championships. His family barn burned down when he was a kid. Trending News. This inspiring memoir tells the story of his impoverished upbringing as one of nine children in a close-knit Mormon family on a farm in Wyoming, where unceasing chores led to tremendous strength at an early age. Rulon Gardner in 2003 AP A learning disability earned Gardner the nickname "Dumbo." The 125-pound fourth-grader was also called "Fatso." As a senior at Star Valley High School, he won a state. [3], Gardner was born in Afton, Wyoming. Practically speaking, he is coaching more than that. He was willing to answer questions about anythingfrostbite, bankruptcy, divorcebut not that. This is not LeBron James sitting courtside at his sons basketball game, jovially stepping onto the court, with everyone in the gym streaming his every reaction online. The problem: She had been fabricating documents, according to the FBI, including the ones she showed Rulon. He was an All-State selection in both football and wrestling, and was also the 1989 wrestling state heavyweight champion. It helps me get back on my feet and take on the world again.. Rulon Gardner's age is 51. Rulon Gardner: From Star Valley to International Stardom Read more of SI's Daily Cover stories here. It has a lot in common with the guy manhandling the steering wheel. Knowing that he's the guy that's in the practice room every day that I get to learn from it's an amazing experience to have him in my corner.. The finals are a spectacle. Martinez is a Utahn and three-time NCAA qualifier at Clarion in Pennsylvania who also went 153 as a pro martial arts fighter. What are you doing down there? he bellows at one wrestler who is splayed out on all fours underneath an opponent. At one point during the conversation about The Biggest Loser, he whips out his phone and calls Moses Kinikini, a fellow contestant on that season. Rulon feels he was treated unfairly. In a normal year, not interrupted by a pandemic, the high school wrestling season runs November to February. There is one tangible positive in Rulons life as a direct result of his appearance on The Biggest Loser. Gus, his 14-year-old Shih Tzu, sits on his left shoulder, staring out through the cracked windshield at the cars ahead. Rulons weight is still a battle. There was an incident in New Zealand, when contestants had just returned to the show after a holiday break, and he needed a chiropractor. Now, it appears hes on the verge of beating those projections by a considerable margin. He competed at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics and won the gold medal in 2000, defeating Russia's three-time reigning Olympic gold medalist Aleksandr Karelin in the final. Nobody bats an eye as the wrestler shoves gauze up his nostril and his practice partner sprays the mat down with disinfectant. Herriman High has back-to-back state champs. He didn't even start wrestling until his freshman year of high school and became a state champ his senior year. Rulon participated in this from six years old until he started junior high school at 12 years old. Three years later he walked away from a plane crash into Lake Powell with only a minor hip injury and a concussion.
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