Not the Olympic Greco-Roman super heavyweight final in 2000 when, with a 10 decision, he handed the Russian Bear his first loss in 13 years, and scored the first point against him in six. Rulon was strapped for cash when he went on the show, and worried about how hed make money while he was away for so long, so a friend lent him some. On February 24, 2007, Gardner and two other men survived a crash when a light aircraft he was traveling in crashed into Lake Powell, Utah. 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. In 2002, two years after his Olympic triumph, he was involved in a snowmobile accident. Rulon Gardner was born on 16 August, 1971 in Afton, WY, is an American wrestler and MMA fighter. Months after winning his gold medal, Rulon's toe was amputated . In track and field, as a senior, he took second at the state finals in the shot put.[15]. Rulon wishes they were on the mat warming up already, but he repeats a phrase hes said a few times this week: You cant want it for them. In some ways, this is one of the toughest parts of the job. 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. After falling into the river four times, Rulon was unable to move any farther and he decided to build a shelter and wait for a rescue team. 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. 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. One of the Greco-Roman grapplers lowest moments came in 2012, when he filed for bankruptcy. The wrestler has almost lost his life several times. They grew close during the show, expressed mutual love for each other as they hugged goodbye in Rulons final scene and spoke a few times in the years that followed. He now says it wasnt true. Gardner is keeping busy in his late 40s. All those people who told me I could never get here and get on this stage, Im going to show them. He says he liked when his coaches would stand, and he thinks it helps him be more animated. Despite spending four months in a high-school wrestling environment where weight is an obsession and scales are plentiful, he says he avoided stepping on one the whole season. But the shaved head and approachable demeanor remain. Rulon Gardner is crammed into the drivers seat of a 2006 Volkswagen Beetle. In track and field, as a senior, he took second at the state finals in the shot put. Rulon Gardner struggled at school due to a learning disability. 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. As of 2011, Gardner worked as a motivational speaker, often appearing as a keynote presenter and event host. It takes the lower half of his body a little longer to warm up in the morning, and he happened to roll his ankle two or three times yesterday. Thats the experienceand the last time most people have seen him on the public stagehe says is most misunderstood. After the speech he heads back to the hallway and opens one of his suitcases, which is stuffed with copies of his book and posters from the old Got Milk? ad campaign that show him holding two full pails in front of a dairy cow. The two coaches are animated as their wrestler gets on the scoreboard first, both coaches standing throughout the match. Its horrifying for me and my family.. At points, there were times I thought, You know what, just give up. The living room, in a more modest home than the crowded driveway might suggest, is full of reminders that hes lived a charmed life of celebrity. 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. In the second period, Traycee connects on a headlock and sends his opponent to his back. Rulon stands and leans against her desk, hovering above a speakerphone, mindlessly clicking his pen as they discuss auto insurance quotes for a father who wants to buy a car for a teenage son whos already been in a fender bender. They dim the lights and extend the lower level of the bleachers, with extra rows of yellow seats now closer to the action. Until then, you can get a taster of Gardners amazing story below. The Los Angeles Rams drafted defensive end out of Toledo, Desjuan Johnson with the 259th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Is this who you want to be to the youth of America?". 'The Biggest Loser' shocker: Rulon abruptly quits, and it's anyone's Gardner says the whole front of his mouth is veneer anyway, a result of decades of inadvertent headbutts. This time Gardner stayed upright, and the two massive men danced chest-to-chest through a scoreless three-minute first period. Rulon Gardner, The Man Who Wouldn't Die | GQ Few knew the ironic twist, the only reason he even had a chance to earn back his medal. Then they both win and advance. One client leaves and its on to the next one. weight class at the 1993 NCAA Championships, earning All-American honors. He was no slouch. Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 52 years old? [22], Gardner attempted a comeback for the 2012 Olympics[23] but was unable to make the 264.5 pound max weight limit for the U.S. Olympic Trials and therefore ineligible to compete for a position on the Olympic team. . 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. Sports Illustrated is here! he tells him. During his efforts to regain his composure and regroup, he fell into the freezing Salt River with his snowmobile. His second great grandfather was Archibald Gardner,[4] who was one of the early settlers of Star Valley, Wyoming. He graduated from the University of NebraskaLincoln with a bachelor's degree in physical education. Rulon Ellis Gardner (born August 16, 1971) is an American retired Greco-Roman Olympic Gold Medalist wrestler. Its the second week of February and Coach Gardnerhis kids just call him Rulonhas four high-schoolers in the Utah 6A State Championships. Even as he gets his feet under himself and recovers financially, he feels betrayed. And thats the story that he stuck to for nine years. Hundreds of wrestlers are running around, stretching or sparring to warm up. The sun began to lower and the temperature, which had been twenty-five degrees, began to drop. In one photo, egged on by the people around him, Rulon grabs both state champs in playful headlocks, one under each arm. 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. For one week every year, Star Valley would have a wrestling camp, which always concluded with a tournament on the weekend. I know what I need to do, now I need to focus, and The Biggest Loser taught you that. The problem: She had been fabricating documents, according to the FBI, including the ones she showed Rulon. He was afraid that he would lose both of his feet, but fortunately, he only lost his right toe to amputation. Each mat is set up the same. Herb Douglas, 1948 Olympic long jump medalist, dies at 101 (Herriman competes in 6A, the classification for the biggest schools in the state.) After 16 weeks on the show, Gardner had lost 173 pounds. A good friend of Rulons had a nephew whose son wrestled at Herriman, so Gardner came to a practice and offered to help a local club team. His practice room simply cant have the same intensity as the ones at USA Wrestling or the University of Nebraska. There are two lightweights and two heavyweights, making for convenient practice partners. The sun is starting to set. The frostbitten night on the mountain cost him a toe, after which he recovered to win a bronze medal in Athens in 2004a feat thats as much a part of his legacy as the gold in Sydney. [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. Some of the advice is technical, some is motivational. However, he had to win a number of matches to get to the Gold medal round. Another client comes out of a meeting with one of Rulons coworkers, and on the way out the door he spots the heavyweight. He and Justin were the heaviest team on the ranch. Oh, do you know who he is? Rulons coworker asks his client. Gardner, trained by Bas Rutten, won the bout via unanimous decision. During his efforts to regain his composure and regroup, he fell into the freezing Salt River with his snowmobile. He isnt supposed to talk about it. Russian super heavyweight Aleksandr Karelin hadn't lost. Rulon is currently making his profession as a motivational speaker, often appearing as a keynote presenter and event host. [Harper declined an interview request through a spokesperson.]. With such a large natural frame, Gardner struggled to control his weight after retiring from life as a professional sportsman. Gardner attended junior college at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) in Rexburg, Idaho, and as a sophomore won the NJCAA national heavyweight wrestling championship. 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. Karelin was previously unbeaten for 13 years in international competition. , money, salary, income, and assets. Rulon Gardner finally explains leaving The Biggest Loser He attended both Ricks and Nebraska on wrestling scholarships. His family barn burned down when he was a kid. And 20 years after pulling off the greatest upset in Olympic wrestling history, Gardner is chasing more medals. The night before the tournament, he stopped at a buffet restaurant for dinner. LINCOLN, Neb. Gardner attended Star Valley High School in Afton, Wyoming, and was a three-sport letter winner and standout in football, wrestling, and track and field. In that episode of The Biggest Loser where Rulon went bungee jumping, he blew away Bob Harper by telling him shortly before his jump that it was the anniversary of his plane crash into Lake Powell. Rulon and his wife live in Logan, Utah, where he runs a gym with Pope. But thats how the story has always gone. They drop $20 bills on the table for books with personalized inscriptions. This match ends as abruptly as it begins. There was an incident in New Zealand, when contestants had just returned to the show after a holiday break, and he needed a chiropractor. [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. 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. He remained stranded for 18 hours. That one stung. He also works as an insurance agent at JRI Insurance in Payson, Utah. There are rows of pull-up bars and headshots of wrestlers whove qualified for the Utah state tournament in years past. . 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. A potential new client comes in for what Rulon calls a one-on-one. These are always fun crowds, Gardner says quietly. You want me to do a clinic for free? In other ways, Rulon has a presence. Rulon Gardner's income source is mostly from being a successful Wrestler. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. We are committed to making our website ADA compliant. Their contingent leaves the mat and the two teammates save their most excited celebration for each other. Can I talk to the parents about insurance afterward? Most famously, Gardner spent a February 2002 night in the wilderness after his snowmobile overturned and dunked him into an icy river multiple times. His goal is to get back to his wrestling weight of 265lbs (120kg). 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. Unbelievably, that wasn't Rulon's only near-death experience with hypothermia. But theres also a football signed by John Elway, Steve Young, Warren Moon and some smudged names that are harder to make out. 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, in which he describes his Greco-Roman wrestling career, his academic struggles (as someone who suffers from a learning disability) and an account of his near-death experience when stranded after a snowmobile accident. Former Husker wrestler Rulon Gardner attempting comeback Keep going. The men swam an hour in 44F (7C) water to reach shore, and then spent the night without shelter. He talks to the state qualifiers about visualizing their day. Hey Mount Olive wrestlers, this is Rulon Gardner. He is 48 now, sells insurance and has a second job coaching wrestling at a Salt Lake City-area high school. But Rulon has lived 49 years now, and not all have been as kind as that brief stretch after he became famous overnight, going from total unknown to Leno and Conan guest in a span of 10 days. Since turning his life around financially, hes been able to reclaim most of it, and today is able to show his hard-won Olympic medals to his students. Rulon and Rad follow Talmage out to the mat. Not during the night on the mountain waiting for a rescue helicopter to spot him, or the grueling recovery from frostbite and hypothermia. Rulon Gardner was born in Afton, WY on August 16, 1971. He talks to the teammates wholl be there as spectators about letting that experience motivate them for next year. One of his fellow contestants even remarked in a solo confessional to the camera how strange it was not to get a more detailed explanation. 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 doesnt like wearing his badge on a lanyard that chokes his neck, so he tries to avoid it. Earning back all the goodwill his initial rise to fame afforded him. Currently Gardner is missing a tooth, the incisor to the right of his two front teeth. 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. Gardner has expressed a desire to make a comeback, with an eye on the 2024 Olympics. And Ive never heard a word. Its been nine years. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. American Rulon Gardner upsets undefeated and un-scored-upon Russian Aleksandr Karelin to claim a stunning gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics #NBCSports #RulonG. Feet First After a snowmobile mishap left him ravaged by frostbite and Theres just one catch: He has so many autographed items, he doesnt know who signed many of them. Super-sized wrestling star Rulon Gardner lost his only daughter in a 1990 car wreck and now hopes his turn on . Five Rings Films presents the incredible story of wrestler Rulon Gardner, who shocked the world at the 2000 Olympic Games, became an American icon overnight, and then survived multiple near-death experiences, crushing weight gain, and bankruptcy to emerge undefeated. I dont feel good about it. For many high school wrestlers, this will be the pinnacle of their athletic careers, and the moment is treated with that gravity. 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. Thats his daily motivation. His two lightweights are both eliminated on Day 1 but the two heavier weights, Talmage Carman and Traycee Norman, win two matches apiece. Rulon feels he was treated unfairly. Gardner is rolling two full suitcases behind him through the corridor outside a series of ballrooms at a DoubleTree hotel in New Jersey. Welcome back, a man on the waitstaff said, as Rulon made his way to a table. He apologizes to the room for his hoarse voice, which he blames on his coaching. Gardner poses for photo after photo, always holding the 2004 bronze medal and letting his admirers hold the gold. First published on February . 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. He turns the corner and ditches the Velcro brace on his right wrist. r/wrestling - The Fall of a Wrestling Legend - Rulon Gardner vs It's been 20 years since Gardner, a 2,000-to-1 underdog, beat three-time gold medalist. 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. 2023 US Wrestling Open Championship : r/wrestling - Reddit He bought a house nearby, so his only long commute is up I-15 to the high school. Wrestler Rulon Gardner Plots Comeback at London Olympics - The New York 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. Gardner became famous as a Wyoming farm boy, but his Mormon family has ties back to Utah for generations. 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. 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. Rulon Gardner says 'Biggest Loser' sparks a possible return to After 16 weeks on the show, Gardner had lost 173 pounds. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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. His headgear is on, his knee pad is up and his warmup outfit is cast aside, as hes down to just his singlet. Rulon Gardner is crammed into the driver's seat of a 2006 Volkswagen Beetle. Not even after his failed 2012 Olympic attempt. Rulon is wearing the same short-sleeved, button-down shirt from the speech in New Jersey. Think about how its presented to the typical American consumer in TV commercials. 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. The 8,500-seat gym is the former home of an NBA G-League team thats since moved to Delaware and a former team in a now defunct arena football league. As a pro boxer, she identified with his wrestler mentality. He filed for bankruptcy in 2012, losing his Olympic medals in the process. Its the last official day of the season, but Rulon says now the work really starts. The day after the tournament is a FridayFebruary 14 to be exactthe 18th anniversary of Rulons night on the mountain that cost him his toe. 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. Rulon came back to the Olympics in 2004 to defend his title and took home the Bronze medal. 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. Rulon Gardner Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family Rulon Gardner's age is 51. Rulon still feels his match against Aleksandr Karelin every day. 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. After that its club season until April, followed by tournaments and clinics through the summer, not to mention occasional speaking engagements across the country. [18], In 2001, Gardner added a world championship to his list of accomplishments with a victory in the finals over Mihaly Deak-Bardos of Hungary. 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 . Theres a circle in the middle where the action takes place, and each wrestler gets one corner with chairs for two coaches. He came back to win Olympic bronzethe 2004 games in Athens, leaving his shoes on the mat to indicate his retirement. 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. 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.