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He isnt supposed to talk about it. He was raised on a dairy farm in Wyoming, where the family grew crops and milked cows twice a day. With such a large natural frame, Gardner struggled to control his weight after retiring from life as a professional sportsman. As a senior in high school, The Wyoming native won a state wrestling title and placed second in the shot put. Then in 2004, despite coming back from life threatening snowmobile injuries, he managed a Bronze at those Olympics. He strolls past a crowd of high school girls, and none of them even turn their heads to notice him as his towering figure walks through the rows of narrow red lockers, and hangs a left toward the wrestling room. On the posters, Rulon is frozen in time, even as those days move further in the rearview. 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 did not appear on the final episode of the season, except in the background of scenes of other contestants. Rulon, in his life, has collected medals upon medals, each one from high school through college saved in Ziploc bags in his home to prove it. He has appeared at corporate events, celebrity golf tournaments, trade shows, and conventions. There were parents with their kids, spouses and siblings. But the shaved head and approachable demeanor remain. One client leaves and its on to the next one. He was willing to answer questions about anythingfrostbite, bankruptcy, divorcebut not that. For much of his storied sports career, two-time Olympic medalist Rulon Gardner was a slave to the scale. Rulons weight is still a battle. Today Im not the person I want to bethe person I should be, he continues. He now says it wasnt true. It is the latest foray in a string of jobs that includes owning a gym, driving a forklift and working as a medical device rep for Johnson & Johnson, which is when he put many of those miles on the Beetle. He leans against the metal barricade, right next to the folded-up wall of lower level seats that can extend to cover the floor. Tournament organizers hold medal ceremonies, one weight class at a time, with wrestlers posing atop the podium with their new hardware. The two coaches are animated as their wrestler gets on the scoreboard first, both coaches standing throughout the match. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Rulon Gardner caused one of the greatest upsets in Olympic wrestling history when he won gold at Olympic Games Sydney 2000. He came back to win Olympic bronzethe 2004 games in Athens, leaving his shoes on the mat to indicate his retirement. Rulon schmoozes, telling stories and jokes before Lydia steers things back toward business. He believes NBC wanted to make him look like the Olympic brat. He says trainers would do things like give him too short a jump rope or put a massive weight plate on his back while he was planking. With the help of some business mentors, Gardner is living a more stable life selling insurance, is an ambassador for a work-safety app, visits schools and workplaces as a motivational speaker, and stays in touch with his sport as a high school wrestling coach. 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. Rad, like many coaches, has put on a tie. After several hours in his makeshift shelter, he stopped shivering, which led him to believe that he was dying. 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. Through it all, though, he says hes still glad he went on the show. Both will advance to Day 2, starting with the semifinals in the morning, two wins away from the top spot on the podium. Their contingent leaves the mat and the two teammates save their most excited celebration for each other. He attended both Ricks and Nebraska on wrestling scholarships. When the high school team needed a new coach soon after that, he got the job. He also has licensing deals, as well as print and television endorsements. He wont have as many days where he works from 8 a.m. until after-school practice and then gets home at 9 p.m. without having worked out himself. Sports Illustrated is here! he tells him. He already had a relationship with NBC, working as a TV commentator for the networks coverage of the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He graduated from the University of NebraskaLincoln with a bachelor's degree in physical education. You can say Im stupid or Im stubborn because I think anything is possible, he said. Due to the physical damage, a saw had to be used to remove his boots. Gardner attended junior college at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) in Rexburg, Idaho, and as a sophomore won the NJCAA national heavyweight wrestling championship. A bookcase next to the TV houses a plaque commemorating his induction to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame; the prestigious James E. Sullivan Award, given annually to the top amateur athlete in the country; an ESPY for being named 2000s male U.S. Olympian of the year; and other accolades. My parrot, Gardner jokes. Rulon doesnt go up the stairs to his seat during the break, opting instead to stay in the holding pen. My voice is a little scraggly because I care, he tells them, to some polite chuckles. Twenty years after winning a stunning gold medal at the Sydney Olympics, former wrestler Rulon Gardner reflects on the winding path his life has taken. He says Bob wanted to stay in touch and keep helping him live healthier. Rulon signed up with his friend Justin Pope, a fellow wrestler (who beat Rulon in junior high) and long-time friend. He again cuts a hulking figure, now situated behind a desk in a Dri-FIT, long-sleeved black athletic shirt, gray slacks and black sneakers. Rulon learned about hard work and determination which became core values in Rulon Gardner's life. His opponent in the 130kg Greco-Roman final was The Russian bear Aleksandr Karelin, a three-time Olympic champion who had not lost an international bout in 13 years. As a pro boxer, she identified with his wrestler mentality. However, she divorced him when he became involved with his first pluralist wife. He then earned a football scholarship to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. On the desk he has nothing but a binder, a notebook and a red Powerade Zero Sugar. 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. [6], In 2012, Gardner and his wife Kami filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in a Salt Lake City Federal court, with $2.9 million in liabilities. 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. In 2007, Rulon and two friends crashed a lightweight aircraft into Lake Powell, Utah. He defeated Russian Aleksandr Karelin in the 2000 Olympic heavyweight final in Sydney, handing Karelin his first loss in 13 years. The Denver Nuggets took a 1-0 lead over the Suns after defeating Phoenix 124-107 on Saturday. Theres a curly-headed heavyweight from Fremont High, Weston Warr, whom Rulon has taken a liking to after theyve spoken at a few tournaments throughout the last two seasons. But theres also a football signed by John Elway, Steve Young, Warren Moon and some smudged names that are harder to make out. He didn't even start wrestling until his freshman year of high school and became a state champ his senior year. At points, there were times I thought, You know what, just give up. 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. After a first interview in Salt Lake City and a second-round tryout in California, they were all set. Most coaches sit in the chairs, but Rulon stands behind his. All I can do is use the experiences of my life to inject knowledge into our youth, Gardner says in the film. In 2002, he had a toe amputated after a snowmobile accident. He holds up his thumb and index finger a couple inches apart. He is a member of famous Wrestler with the age 52 years old group. He was raised on a dairy farm in Wyoming, where the family grew crops and milked cows twice a day. Im the eye candy, Rulon jokes. While the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down life for so many in the country, Rulon has kept moving. To get back to that weight. He also works as an insurance agent at JRI Insurance in Payson, Utah. If Gardner were to pull off the improbable, it wouldnt be the first time. He was an All-State selection in both football and wrestling, and was also the 1989 wrestling state heavyweight champion. But he estimates his weight is about where he started on Loser. Welcome back, a man on the waitstaff said, as Rulon made his way to a table. Rulon Gardner's age is 51. After reaching his competitive training weight, Rulon chose to leave the show in support of his wife and to begin the next chapter of his life. (Billy . He paid her $24K for the first six months, then $36K for the next three, about a quarter million total. [2] Karelin was previously unbeaten for 13 years in international competition. Rulon moseys around and cant stop himself from giving advice to some of the wrestlers on other teams. The car has logged a lot of miles, and in some ways come out a little worse for the wear, but it just never seems to quit. So can wrestling mats. He drew a direct line between what Rulon taught him about good positioning and how he was able to throw his opponent in the finals. [A PR rep for the show, which has since been relaunched on the NBC/Comcast-owned USA Network, could not make anyone involved with Gardners season of the show available for comment. In some ways, Gardner blends in amid the hundreds of wrestlers and dozens of coaches. In episode 16, he was bungee jumping over New Zealands Milford Sound, espousing the importance of winning immunity to remain on the show. The specifics, he says, he really cant get into. Rulon cant outrun his past, nor does he seem to want to. Gardner is a Wyoming native who now lives in Utah. Karelin had been undefeated for 13 years, and had not given up a point in six years, prior to his loss in the gold medal match to Gardner. [21], Gardner served as an analyst for NBC Sports coverage of Wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Nobody bats an eye as the wrestler shoves gauze up his nostril and his practice partner sprays the mat down with disinfectant. His family were also a key part of the Mormon community. Rulon Gardner struggled at school due to a learning disability. Gardner says the whole front of his mouth is veneer anyway, a result of decades of inadvertent headbutts. After several hours in his makeshift shelter, he stopped shivering, which led him to believe that he was dying. Rulon feels he was treated unfairly. Not a chance in the world, he told Washington Post when asked if he believed hed beat Karelin. If I turn my mind on and do it, I'll do it. They share a big hug and run into the tunnel, into the basement level of the arena, to go celebrate. And 20 years after pulling off the greatest upset in Olympic wrestling history, Gardner is chasing more medals. This Time, Rulon Gardner Survived Small Plane Crash. After the speeches, assistant coach Rad Martinez gathers everyone in the center of the mat. Rulons wrestling career began when he was six years old. Rulon says it went beyond thatand that behind the scenes it was worse, that the people involved in making the show were manipulative, and gossip among contestants was rampant. Keep pushing. Though he concedes he needs to follow his own advice. This is another touchy subject for Rulon, though one he discusses openly. Castranuova says she thought Rulon would win the whole competition and was shocked when he left. Posnanski, Joe (March 21, 2011) "Point After: Losing, and Loving It", "Rulon Gardner and the lonely afterglow of Olympic gold", "Booking Rulon Gardner Speaker Appearances, Rulon Gardner Agent Manager Contact, Hiring Rulon Gardner Speaking Engagements Costs Fees", "The Biggest Loser" Season 11 Finale Recap: A great cast is the ultimate trump card, "Gardner lives to tell of another life-threatening accident Olympics ESPN", "Daugherty: Having embraced wrestling to fullest, Gardner lets go", "Olympian Gardner survives small plane crash (AP report)", "Rulon Gardner to receive Citizenship Through Sports Alliance award for sportsmanship | TheMat.com USA Wrestling", "Aleksandr KARELIN | Olympic Athlete | Atlanta 1996, Barcelona 1992, Seoul 1988, Sydney 2000", "Two-time Olympic wrestling medalist Rulon Gardner undergoes additional surgery on his foot damaged b | TheMat.com USA Wrestling", "Pro-Wrestling Gets 'Real' Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment", "Baltimore Sports News: Sports News, Scores and Schedules baltimoresun.com", "Rulon Gardner considers comeback for 2012 Olympics", "Despite failed comeback, Rulon Gardner is not finished wrestling", "Rulon Gardner MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography", Professional MMA record for Rulon Gardner, Rulon Gardner's page from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, "Nine minutes: How the Sydney Olympics changed wrestler Rulon Gardner's life", Olympic Champions in Greco-Roman super heavyweight, World Champions in Greco-Roman super heavyweight (130 kg), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rulon_Gardner&oldid=1151173774, Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in wrestling, Olympic gold medalists for the United States in wrestling, Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States, Mixed martial artists utilizing Greco-Roman wrestling, Pan American Games medalists in wrestling, Articles with dead external links from April 2017, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, United States Olympic Committee Sportsman of the Year, 2001, Inducted as a Distinguished Member of the, This page was last edited on 22 April 2023, at 11:02. Against harrowing odds, Rulon emerged as the victor. I gotta make some changes.. That was just a small dumbbell shy of 500. The Los Angeles Rams drafted defensive end out of Toledo, Desjuan Johnson with the 259th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Rulon doesnt follow. He talks about his Seven Steps to Success, which are outlined in his autobiography. , money, salary, income, and assets. Rulon gives his incoming wrestler a high-five, then high-fives his state champ and match No. 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. His other post-Olympic claim to fame is that in April 2011, Gardner became the first contestant ever to quit NBCs hit weight-loss reality show The Biggest Loser. His wrestlers are also, more literally, taking a while to warm up. The short version, Rulon says, is that he was presented an opportunity to invest in a real estate venture in 2006. What are you doing down there? he bellows at one wrestler who is splayed out on all fours underneath an opponent. Its more of a one-on-two. This time Gardner stayed upright, and the two massive men danced chest-to-chest through a scoreless three-minute first period. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Rulon Gardner, a 2000 Olympic wrestling champion, said he was 15 pounds to heavy to compete at this week's U.S. Open despite registering for the event, which would have been his first meet in . But the idea of himof Rulon Gardnerbeing a quitter, that one hes ready to put to bed. He is quiet but he holds peoples attention when hes talking to them. You see people that do amazing things, Rulon said, and they sit back and they think that theyre just gonna keep succeeding because of that. But he knows its not always that easy. Rulon Gardner is crammed into the driver's seat of a 2006 Volkswagen Beetle. Unable to move any farther, Gardner decided to build a shelter and wait for a rescue team. The four state qualifiers pair off. 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. In 2007, Gardner survived a plane crash by swimming for more than an hour in 44-degree water. Unbelievably, that wasn't Rulon's only near-death experience with hypothermia. Its nice to be able to do this, Gardner says. Because Rulon Gardner isnt a quitter. Shortly after, he became a national junior college heavyweight wrestling champion and walked on to the University of Nebraskas football team. Myself, right now, my biggest thing is my weight. Rulon is currently making his profession as a motivational speaker, often appearing as a keynote presenter and event host. The three men swam for more than an hour in 44-degree water to reach the shore. The two-time Olympic medalist who was seen by many as the frontrunner in the bid to become the Season 11 winner of 'The Biggest Loser' and take home the . As he weaves around trucks, zipping up I-15 North through Provo, Utah, he may be the biggest human on the highway,. At this time, Im asking to leave The Biggest Loser for a personal reason. And that was it. Officially, Rulon is coaching four kids at States. He travelled over 9,000km to Japan to take on judo Olympic gold medallist Hidehiko Yoshida. The American became an overnight sensation back home after the miracle on the mat, but soon found himself struggling with stardom, and battling to save his career after a life-threatening accident. [3], Gardner was born in Afton, Wyoming. As they play the national anthem, Rulon stands in the athlete warmup area, along with other coaches who have kids in the finals. The Olympics arent this strict, he says, shaking his head. Now, it appears hes on the verge of beating those projections by a considerable margin. He has awards, trophies and plaques, plus T-shirts signed by fellow Olympians. He is looking almost straight up at the flag, at attention. 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. Attendees stand in line for a minute of his attention. He doesnt expect to sleep much tonight. His great-great-grandfather Archibald Gardner was a bishop in the church and helped build the famed Salt Lake Temple. He jokes that it took him too long to figure one con that was pulled on him repeatedly: Organizations would make up some award to give him, largely as an excuse to get him to show up for free for an event to which they could sell tickets. None of the three sustained life-threatening injuries. 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.. He is 48 now, sells insurance and has a second job coaching wrestling at a Salt Lake City-area high school. Gardner took the tests required to get his insurance license in 2018. There are two Patriots balls, one with the Super Bowl XXXVIII logo and one with signatures from a bunch of players. Rulon gave him the medal as collateral, and they made a deal that hed hold onto Rulons prized possession until he could pay the debt. But he also knows he cant risk pushing them away. Its a tragedy, Rulon said, fighting back tears as he stood shirtless, addressing his weight in the season premiere. Can I talk to the parents about insurance afterward? 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. I try to use it to inspire and get kids motivated to come out for wrestling for us., When he looks back with 20 years of hindsight on the match that first made him a household name, he draws inspiration from Karelin. He closes his eyes and puts a hand over his heart. Rulon Ellis Gardner (born August 16, 1971) is an American retired Greco-Roman Olympic Gold Medalist wrestler. He says that after his comeback bid fell shortthe result of the 40-year-old not being able to make weight on the day of the U.S. Olympic trialsa contestant gleefully chirped to the public, Once a quitter, always a quitter, even though Rulon says she knew he wasnt really a quitter. Last summer, Gardner began to seriously consider a wrestling comeback. A friend introduced Rulon to their niece, who just needed a small loan to get more financing. Thats why people dont know the full story. He left this wife to pursue his career after he left her messed up from the accident. Rulon Gardner is named as Wisk Deep Clean's first Official Sweat Ambassador at Chelsea Studios on August 2, 2012 in New York City. Ultimately, his snowmobile became stuck between two large boulders. Where Are They Now: Rulon Gardner. That same drive that helped me succeed [in wrestling], is the same drive that helped me survive in the wilderness, he said. Warr, a senior with braces on his teeth, clutches his practice partners foot two feet off the ground and stares back with rapt attention as Rulon discusses technique. After graduating from the University of Nebraska, Rulon continued his Olympic wrestling pursuit with full-time dedication. Gardner became famous as a Wyoming farm boy, but his Mormon family has ties back to Utah for generations. After the ref raises his opponents arm, Rulon picks up his sweaty T-shirt and shorts off the mat and carries them back to the warmup area. Most famously, Gardner spent a February 2002 night in the wilderness after his snowmobile overturned and dunked him into an icy river multiple times. [25]. The work continues for the former heavyweight champion of the world. Rulon and his wife live in Logan, Utah, where he runs a gym with Pope. Rulon also describes his Greco-Roman wrestling career, his Olympic victory, his academic struggles, and an account of his near-death experience after the snowmobile accident. He wants to push the kids as hard as he can, the way old coaches pushed him, trying to be a force in their lives that leads them to greatness. Gardner, trained by Bas Rutten, won the bout via unanimous decision. It tarnishes your name, Gardner said of going through an ordeal like that. With Bob Costas, Katie Couric, Rulon Gardner, Philip Hersh. I had better positioning than that guy did., It's amazing, Talmage said. But none of that is to say Talmage and Traycee dont want it. The state tournament is an all-day affair on both Wednesday and Thursday, and JRI has no issue with him logging those hours at the arena. I learned how to count calories. He finally stepped on a scale, which more or less confirmed what he thoughthe was in the neighborhood of his starting weight on The Biggest Loser, but still wont give up a specific number. Hes the keynote speaker. Gardner served as an analyst for NBC Sports coverage of Wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics. As long as Rulon Gardner is involved I'll be watching. He is 48 now, sells insurance and has a second job coaching wrestling at a Salt Lake City-area high school. Martinez is a Utahn and three-time NCAA qualifier at Clarion in Pennsylvania who also went 153 as a pro martial arts fighter. Some of the advice is technical, some is motivational. The problem: She had been fabricating documents, according to the FBI, including the ones she showed Rulon. In 2002, Gardner went snowmobiling with some friends in the mountains surrounding Star Valley, Wyoming. He has appeared at many corporate events, celebrity golf tournaments, trade shows, and conventions. They relocate to Lydias desk in the main entryway. Rulon and Rad follow Talmage out to the mat. When he was eventually rescued, he was experiencing hypothermia and severe frostbite. Karelin had been undefeated for 13 years, and had not given up a point in six years, prior to his loss in the gold medal match to Gardner. In 2012, after trimming down on the show, Gardner mounted a comeback attempt for the London Olympics, eight years after medaling in Athens. Rulon Ellis Gardner (born August 16, 1971) is an American retired Greco-Roman wrestler. And that was the real reason that I was coming to The Biggest Loser. Rulons experience with The Biggest Loser started just like every other contestants. After 16 weeks on the show, Gardner had lost 173 pounds. When he was an active athlete, he never took a day off. Its an empty feeling every wrestler knows, including Rulon, who puts a hand on his wrestlers shoulder, looks him in the eye and delivers a reassuring message. JRI insurance has a branch in Payson, 60 miles south of Salt Lake City, about a 50-minute drive south of Herriman High. Earning back all the goodwill his initial rise to fame afforded him. In that first match, Karelin slammed Gardner on his face three times and even flipped him feet-first over his head in a violent maneuver that had Gardner's wife, Stacy, fearing for her husband's life. Some would see this as good coachingthat when you have someone you know can be pushed as hard as Rulon, its your job as a trainer to push them. He lets the manager of one local insurance outlet put him in a headlock for their photo. 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. They clear the floor and the jumbotron hanging from the ceiling lists which bouts will begin on which mats. He talks to the state qualifiers about visualizing their day. [2] Karelin was previously unbeaten for 13 years in international competition. He had to leave and go to a nearby mall to accommodate all the people who wanted to talk to him and get autographs. 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. Before attending Nebraka, Gardner was a junior college national champion at Ricks College. He turns the corner and ditches the Velcro brace on his right wrist. Its sour, but its still candy. Rulon asks the client to share some of his corporate financial goals, and Lydia gives the pitch about what services they can offer. He and his first wife Sheri lost their daughter, Stacey in a terrible car accident on December 26, 1990. As a member of the 2000 US Olympic wrestling team, Rulon was pitted against Russian legend Alexander Karelin, in what can only be described as a David versus Goliath scenario. Rulon weighed in at 474 pounds the first week, up from 286 in his Olympic years. When he was eventually rescued, he was experiencing hypothermia and severe frostbite. Rulon again captured the attention of America when he appeared as a contestant of the NBC television program The Biggest Loser. Options: Reply Quote Posted by: PtLoma ( ) Date: April 29, 2011 05:50PM [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]. 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. Rulon Gardner, who was an All-American wrestler at Nebraska before scoring one of the biggest upsets in the sports history in the 2000 Olympic gold medal round, announced this weekend that he has entered the U.S. Open. Its about that time, Rulon says. His win made him the only American to ever win both a World and Olympic title in Greco-Roman wrestling. He loves working with kids to help them achieve their greatest success. Gardner stands in front of the crowd and runs through his well-rehearsed life story. She presented a business plan that looked solid. 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. The arena at Utah Valley University is set up with eight wrestling mats in two rows of four. Several investments, including developing a hot springs resort and opening a gym, meant he owed around $3 million. He is from . Youre the coolest, Moses tells him, as they both delight in the excuse to catch up and reminisce about their time on the show. (He notes the irony, again, of him being a spokesman for safety.) Hopefully, they can see that. Currently Gardner is missing a tooth, the incisor to the right of his two front teeth.