Rulon is now a dynamic speaker and coach who shares his stories of triumph and loss to motivate and encourage others to fight for their dreams. Rulon Gardner. Yoshida, in addition to being an Olympic gold medalist in judo, was a highly successful MMA fighter. 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. No one was more surprised by his victory over . The 6-foot-3, 286-pound wrestler attempted to throw the underdog repeatedly, as Karelin had done during a 5-0 victory over Gardner in their only previous meeting three years earlier. Rulon's wrestling career began when he was six years old. Gardner, now a 51-year-old, wants to compete again at the 2024 Summer Olympics. American Olympian who competed in the 2000 Olympic games in Greco-Roman wrestling, winning a gold medal in the 130 kg weight class. Theres just one catch: He has so many autographed items, he doesnt know who signed many of them. You may have heard of me He obliges every request until hes the last one in the room, packs up his suitcase with his unsold merchandise and heads out the door. The arena explodes as the referee slaps the mat to signal a pin, and Rulon claps excitedly. 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. Yoshida, in addition to being an Olympic gold medalist in judo, was a highly successful MMA fighter. Earning back all the goodwill his initial rise to fame afforded him. Winning the Gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 came through extreme dedication and sacrifice. The arena staff rolls up six mats, leaving two in the center of the gym, one for the 5A championships and one for 6A. But he quit the. They were wrestling around when an inadvertent headbutt knocked it out. 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. Not a chance in the world, he told Washington Post when asked if he believed hed beat Karelin. Karelin was previously unbeaten for 13 years in international competition. Maybe not quite as busy as when he grew up on the farm, milking cows and carrying irrigation pipe from sunup to sundown. All those people who told me I could never get here and get on this stage, Im going to show them. 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. Rulon still looks to his old buddy Dremiel Byers for inspiration. He currently resides in Afton, Wyoming. But in the end, he found his inner steel. But thats how the story has always gone. 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 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 Gardner caused one of the greatest upsets in Olympic wrestling history when he won gold at Olympic Games Sydney 2000. Rulon doesnt like wearing his badge on a lanyard that chokes his neck, so he tries to avoid it. Rulon and his wife live in . is 6 2 and Weight 265lbs. [13], 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. Link to: Home Valuation / Home ValuationHome Valuation That would be impossible. And Ive never heard a word. Its been nine years. Hell take five minutes with someone or an hour with someone if they want. He has awards, trophies and plaques, plus T-shirts signed by fellow Olympians. Barry spent his spare time as a young boy in Overton where he loved to walk the beautiful hills and valleys. Rulon Gardner is crammed into the driver's seat of a 2006 Volkswagen Beetle. Rulon Gardner is crammed into the drivers seat of a 2006 Volkswagen Beetle. 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. As they play the national anthem, Rulon stands in the athlete warmup area, along with other coaches who have kids in the finals. Rulon was partially on the hook. Most famously, Gardner spent a February 2002 night in the wilderness after his snowmobile overturned and dunked him into an icy river multiple times. Gardner, 43, said the bankruptcy has been difficult to go through, but it has . In life you make mistakes, you learn from them and move forward. That led to a scholarship at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho (now Brigham Young University-Idaho), where Gardner won a junior college national title. None of the three sustained life-threatening injuries. It has a lot in common with the guy manhandling the steering wheel. Rulon says its a shamethey used to have two pictures of him hanging on the wall. And whos seen more accidents than Rulon Gardner? However, the future Olympian did not immediately command his sport on the farm or even at Star Valley High School. Hey Mount Olive wrestlers, this is Rulon Gardner. Gardner is known for his defeat of three-time reigning gold medalist Aleksandr Karelin at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He stands alone, essentially in the corner of the gym farthest away from any crowd. Think about how its presented to the typical American consumer in TV commercials. usurped legendary 3x Olympic & 9x World champion Karelin . "But I always wrestle kind of unorthodox, and our feet got tangled and I got under him. He talks to the teammates wholl be there as spectators about letting that experience motivate them for next year. They share a big hug and run into the tunnel, into the basement level of the arena, to go celebrate. Gardner practices twice a day while being coached by Steve Fraser, who won America's first Greco-Roman gold, back in 1984. He competed at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics and won the gold medal in 2000, defeating Russia's three-time reigning gold medalist Aleksandr Karelin in the final. Rulon schmoozes, telling stories and jokes before Lydia steers things back toward business. He was raised on a dairy farm in Wyoming, where the family grew crops and milked cows twice a day. As of 2011, Gardner worked as a motivational speaker, often appearing as a keynote presenter and event host. First published on February . Gardner, who was also selected for all-state in football and took second in the shot put at the state track and field championships, won the Wyoming high school heavyweight championship in 1988 when he defeated Newcastle's Jerry Stanton in the title match and in 1989 when he defeated Buffalo's Travis Studie in the title match. Gardner is strong enough to handle the steering wheel with two thick fingers and a thumb. Gardner competed once in mixed martial arts and in 2005 he became the host for a professional wrestling league called Real Pro Wrestling. Rulon learned about hard work and determination which became core values in Rulon Gardner's life. It's been 20 years . Some of the advice is technical, some is motivational. [7] 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. [16] He attended both Ricks and Nebraska on wrestling scholarships. 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. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? School was a struggle for Rulon due to a learning disability. For one week every year, Star Valley would have a wrestling camp, which always concluded with a tournament on the weekend. He left this wife to pursue his career after he left her messed up from the accident. He graduated from the University of NebraskaLincoln with a bachelor's degree in physical education. American Olympian who competed in the 2000 Olympic games in Greco-Roman wrestling, winning a gold medal in the 130 kg weight class. Since then, Rulon has faced multiple life-threatening situations and survived every one through sheer grit and an absolute refusal to quit. 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. 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. You want me to come give a speech? As a result, all of Gardners Olympic memorabilia and some of his vehicles were auctioned off. He and his first wife Sheri lost their daughter, Stacey in a terrible car accident on December 26, 1990. 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. But despite being the most recognizable face in the gym, one of the most eventful parts of his day is when a tournament official informs him that he has to wear his credential. After an FBI investigation, she pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering and was sentenced to 34 months in prison. Who was bullied and teased as he. Gardner attended junior college at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) in Rexburg, Idaho, and as a sophomore won the NJCAA national heavyweight wrestling championship. 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. All Rights Reserved. While the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down life for so many in the country, Rulon has kept moving. He was unable to repeat his 2000 performance, coming away with the Bronze medal, and after his match, he placed his shoes in the middle of the mat as a symbol of retirement from competitive wrestling. Not even after his failed 2012 Olympic attempt. They told him that wasnt allowed; he told them he couldnt get out of bed without it. When he was eventually rescued, he was experiencing hypothermia and severe frostbite. As the American shares in the Olympic Channel film 'Rulon', he got separated from the party he was with, became trapped in a shallow river, and was forced to spend the night in sub-zero temperatures with no shelter or jacket. Rulon tipped the scale at 474 pounds at the onset of the show, up more than 200 from the 265-pound division in which he competed at the 2004 Olympics. Gardner poses for photo after photo, always holding the 2004 bronze medal and letting his admirers hold the gold. Against harrowing odds, Rulon emerged as the victor. So can wrestling mats. After several hours in his makeshift shelter, he stopped shivering and started having visions, which led him to believe that he was probably dying. Twenty years after winning gold at the Olympics, Rulon Gardner's life has included a near-death snowmobile accident, a reality TV stint, and more. Nine minutes. In January 2011, he was announced as a contestant on season 11 of the American reality television show, The Biggest Loser. Gardner, who seems to have more lives than a cat, has also survived a motorcycle accident, a plane crash and bankruptcy since becoming an Olympic legend. Because it wasnt sitting in some rich collectors safe after an auction, it was just being held onto by an old friend waiting to be made whole. BYU-Idaho) in Rexburg, Idaho and as a sophomore won the NJCAA national heavyweight wrestling championship. As each finals match starts, an announcer over the loudspeaker introduces both wrestlers, along with their hometowns, season records, past accomplishments on the mat, parents names and GPAs. He walks around the perimeter of the room, shoes off, thick white socks resting below his tree-trunk calves, and watches his kids spar. Everyone just wants Rulon to be healthy. For me, it was like, Theyre trusting me to train an Olympic champion? He now says it wasnt true. 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. 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. Two-time Olympian and wrestling legend Rulon Gardner released a statement Wednesday morning regarding his abrupt decision to quit 'The Biggest Loser' even though some considered him the . If anyone above her had made any sort of decision like that, she wouldnt be privy to it. Still, he says when he got hold of a network executive on the phone, he was informed hed have to go through the full tryout process. This is their moment, and he wants to let them have it. Rulon came back to the Olympics in 2004 to defend his title and took home the Bronze medal. Finally, its time. He briefly loses his lead, then pulls back ahead and coasts through the final period to a state championship. Trending News. Thankfully, Rulon's mom and dad were always telling him that with prayer and persistence he could find the strength to do anything. Gardner became famous as a Wyoming farm boy, but his Mormon family has ties back to Utah for generations. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Gardner attempted a comeback for the 2012 Olympics 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. Biography The youngest of nine children, Rulon Gardner was born to Reed and Virginia Gardner on August 16, 1971. And thats positive.. All I can do is use the experiences of my life to inject knowledge into our youth, Gardner says in the film. Gardner: I'm 43 years old now, and if I'm going to live to, hopefully, be 80 years old, I've got to get healthy. He is the son of Reed and Virginia Gardner and the last of nine children. While at Nebraska, Gardner finished fourth in the 275lb. [5], 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. [24]. "This is my last time on the scale," Gardner said during the episode's weigh-in. But I can't do it 50%. Perhaps most importantly, in this whole arrangement, is that the company is accommodating of his schedule. Thats easy; he does that every day back in Utah. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. These are always fun crowds, Gardner says quietly. 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. There was an incident in New Zealand, when contestants had just returned to the show after a holiday break, and he needed a chiropractor. He has two lawyer friends in particular whom he talks to about business decisions. 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. A friend introduced Rulon to their niece, who just needed a small loan to get more financing. Rulon Gardners income source is mostly from being a successful Wrestler. He closes his eyes and puts a hand over his heart. L-R . 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. In 2004, he won a bronze medal at the Olympics. During his efforts to regain his composure and regroup, he fell into the freezing Salt River with his snowmobile. 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. Gardner became an Olympic legend for his performance during the 2000 Games in Sydney. 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. Is this who you want to be to the youth of America?". He tells them to be smart and in control, and that they should wear their opponents down and tire them out since theyre both better conditioned. As heavier weights, they just have a little more time before their semifinal bouts. He apologizes to the room for his hoarse voice, which he blames on his coaching. Martinez is a Utahn and three-time NCAA qualifier at Clarion in Pennsylvania who also went 153 as a pro martial arts fighter. "To be realistic, I didn't think I could actually beat him," Gardner, age 29 at the time, told the media afterward. This match ends as abruptly as it begins. The only obstacle in the way of a fourth consecutive gold medal for the unbeatable champion, who had not even given up a single point in over 10 years of high-level international competition, is an aw-shucks farm boy from rural Wyoming. "When you have a goal like wrestling it makes you get into shape, so I've lost a . Rulon wears many hats and maintains several revenue streams, but from the Got Milk? posters at his speaking engagements to the business cards with his Olympic photo on them, part of his appeal is still simply being Rulon Gardner. 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. 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. He says some, many of whom gain back considerable weight after they leave the show, feel the experience ruined their lives. "I was razzed the whole way home," Gardner told the Elko (Nev.) Daily Free Press after conducting a wrestling clinic for kids in December 2012. (Billy. He is the youngest of nine children who were raised by Reed and Virginia Gardner on a dairy farm where there was plenty of work--from milking cows to feeding calves to chopping grain--to keep everyone in the large Mormon family busy. He did not appear on the final episode of the season, except in the background of scenes of other contestants. Little do you know whats coming up in life.. The arena at Utah Valley University is set up with eight wrestling mats in two rows of four. Because Rulon Gardner isnt a quitter. He remained stranded for the next 18 hours. The result of having no feeling in his feet is that sometimes hell miss a step. It opened in November after Gardner spent more than two years trying to . Wrestling has taken Gardner to 44 countries. But policy is policy. Ultimately, his snowmobile became stuck between two large boulders. He wouldnt have his gold medal without it. Nearly a dozen younger members of the team who failed to qualify for States are doing their own drills in one corner of the room. In 2001, Gardner added a world championship to his list of accomplishments with a victory in the finals over Mihaly Deak-Bardos of Hungary. Rulon has never dwelled on the negatives in his life. He travelled over 9,000km to Japan to take on judo Olympic gold medallist Hidehiko Yoshida. Im not happy about it. He also declined the opportunity to wrestle in the professional WWE ranks. They clear the floor and the jumbotron hanging from the ceiling lists which bouts will begin on which mats. He has a torch from the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, which he got to carry right before his snowmobile accident. In just one year, he went through rehabilitation and was back on the mat. Others are still drinking the Kool-Aid, he says. Thats the experienceand the last time most people have seen him on the public stagehe says is most misunderstood. Oh. Today, Gardner has taken the lessons learnt and built a new life for himself. In a normal year, not interrupted by a pandemic, the high school wrestling season runs November to February. The show has faced plenty of controversy over the years (including criticisms of the weight-loss methods and their lasting effects, famed trainer Jillian Michaels giving her team caffeine pills and allegations of contestants taking weight-loss pills) and Rulon says former contestants are divided into two camps. Gold medal in the background of scenes of other contestants holding the 2004 medal... 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