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. Gardner is standing along the center line between the rows of mats with an eye on his four guys, who are split into pairs to get loose. [17], In 2001, Gardner added a world championship to his list of accomplishments with a victory in the finals over Mihaly Deak-Bardos of Hungary. 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 Ellis Gardner (born August 16, 1971) is an American retired Greco-Roman Olympic Gold Medalist wrestler. Wrestler Survives Frozen Night. The Associated Press, Feb. 19, 2002. Rulons office handles the gamut of insurance types, and hes become well-versed in life, health, property, casualty, home and auto. After Amputation, Motorcycle Accident And Plane Crash, Olympic Gold Medal Wrestler Rulon Gardner Now Faces Bankruptcy., Dahlberg, Tim. But the idea of himof Rulon Gardnerbeing a quitter, that one hes ready to put to bed. 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. Rulon draws on his own experience, knowing what made the best preparation for him before countless tournaments at the highest possible levels. Rulon signed up with his friend Justin Pope, a fellow wrestler (who beat Rulon in junior high) and long-time friend. He certainly could have died in 2002 when he got lost on his snowmobile and spent the night almost freezing to death in the Wyoming wild. The two heavier weights point first to the technique they learned from him. Speaking to TMZ, he said: "I still wanna give more back to the sport, the sport that I love, and that's wrestling. 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. Maybe it confused him. 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. "The gold medal was so far away from what I thought I could do in my life. While the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down life for so many in the country, Rulon has kept moving. Rulon learned about hard work and determination which became core values in Rulon Gardners life. But theres also a football signed by John Elway, Steve Young, Warren Moon and some smudged names that are harder to make out. The memories and Sharpie ink fade with time. Olympic Gold Medalist, Survivor, Motivational Speaker. He competed at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics and won the gold medal in 2000, defeating Russia's Aleksandr Karelin in the final. The one person that can change it is me.. Zahne says he knows about Rulon Gardner's appearance on NBC's 'The Biggest Loser' from his wife, who is a fan of the show. Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner stepped back into the spotlight earlier this year when he became a contestant on NBC's "The Biggest Loser." On Tuesday night's episode, he became the first participant in the show's 11-season history to walk off. Despite failed comeback, Rulon Gardner is not finished wrestling., Clarke, John. 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. Rulon is new to the neighborhood, though really his home is more farm community than neighborhood, with horses running through penned-in yards along his drive to the office. Rulon Gardner was born on August 16, 1971 in Afton, United States (51 years old). He lets the manager of one local insurance outlet put him in a headlock for their photo. He also takes pride in the fact that even if he wouldnt have ultimately taken his old practice partner Dremiel Byerss spot on the 12 Olympic team, at least he made everyone in the room work a little harder. He would rise before the sun to move bales of hay, chop wood, and milk and clean cows, and attributes his early strength to the rigors of this work. Rulon Ellis Gardner (born August 16, 1971) is an American retired Greco-Roman Olympic Gold Medalist wrestler. Think about how its presented to the typical American consumer in TV commercials. But thats how the story has always gone. 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. 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. And I knew I was doing it because I love it.". If it was an 8-0 tech in the first period then sure but maybe he . They look at the picture and Rulon says, Now you tell them, if you dont hit your numbers this month, you know whos coming around. High school wrestling coaches ask Rulon to look into their camera phones and deliver motivational speeches for their teams. Instead, he takes each challenge and uses it as a means to improve his life. 2 immediately begins. 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. [23], 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. "This is my last time on the scale," Gardner said during the episode's weigh-in. , money, salary, income, and assets. And hes since gotten smarter about managing his finances and investments. But I got the point.". weight class at the 1993 NCAA Championships, earning All-American honors. [16] He attended both Ricks and Nebraska on wrestling scholarships. So, how much is Rulon Gardner worth at the age of 51 years old? Rulon Gardners income source is mostly from being a successful Wrestler. One client leaves and its on to the next one. For many high school wrestlers, this will be the pinnacle of their athletic careers, and the moment is treated with that gravity. They dim the lights and extend the lower level of the bleachers, with extra rows of yellow seats now closer to the action. Rulon schmoozes, telling stories and jokes before Lydia steers things back toward business. State titles on three, Martinez says. Nicole Hazen, the wife of Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen, died on Thursday after a lengthy cancer battle. Gardner won a bronze medal at the 2004 Games. Myself, right now, my biggest thing is my weight. Unable to move any farther, Gardner decided to build a shelter and wait for a rescue team. Curbs can be trouble if hes not watching his landing spot. He had to leave and go to a nearby mall to accommodate all the people who wanted to talk to him and get autographs. 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. [Harper declined an interview request through a spokesperson.]. It's been 20 years . He attended both Ricks and Nebraska on wrestling scholarships. 2 Recreation Board, Indigenous People in Wyoming and the West, http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/brian_cazeneuve/04/26/Rulon-Gardner-Olympic-bid/index.html, http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnclarke/2012/09/19/after-amputation-motorcycle-accident-and-plane-crash-olympic-gold-medal-wrestler-rulon-gardner-now-faces-bankruptcy/, http://www.usawct.org/news/2002_2003/RulonGardner.htm, http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765613285/Bankruptcy-trustee-postpones-Rulon-Gardner-auction-reconsidering-what-possessions-he-will-keep.html?pg=all, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,997892,00.html, http://elkodaily.com/sports/a-golden-opportunity-olympic-gold-medalist-rulon-gardner-visits-elko/article_d08e7a52-3dc1-11e2-9ffd-0019bb2963f4.html, http://www.gazette.com/articles/gardner-142117-byers-sometimes.html, http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/espn25/story?page=moments/89, http://www.whsaa.org/archives/wrestling/1989/1989.asp, Green River Historic Preservation Commission, Natrona County Board of Cooperative Educational Services, Natrona County Recreation Joint Powers Board, Sublette County Historical Preservation Board, University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources, Cazeneuve, Brian. But in the end, he found his inner steel. @RulonGardner. Gardner won a bronze medal at the 2004 Games. But so many people in so many hundreds of matches have thought that, then they go out and he basically crushes them.". 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. 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. My mom said, Is this the kid that I raised? Rulon still feels his match against Aleksandr Karelin every day. Gardner has a little car and a little traveling companion: Gus. [24]. He is from . He was rescued the next morning, but hypothermia and frostbite meant that he lost a toe. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. Gardners life in the public eye has been a twisting journey of highs and lows. 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. And Rulon is thrust into the same conversation hes had with countless strangers over the last 20 years. He made another comeback attempt before the 2016 Rio Olympics at age 44. In January 2011, he was announced as a contestant on season 11 of the American reality television show, The Biggest Loser. 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. In a normal year, not interrupted by a pandemic, the high school wrestling season runs November to February. 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. (Billy. The specifics, he says, he really cant get into. As yesterdays scene repeats, with wrestlers from various schools swarming the mats to get loose, Herrimans two heavier weights are nowhere to be seen. Not even after his failed 2012 Olympic attempt. Its Day 2 of the state tourney. She also says Rulon has since confided in her that he didnt want to leave, but she says she would have no way of knowing if that was true. He remained stranded for the next 18 hours. "He had a great lock on me, and another three or four inches I would have let it slip," Gardner recalled in an ESPN.com story four years later. He loves working with kids to help them achieve their greatest success. Who Is Rulon Gardner's Wife? He finished his college career at the University of Nebraska, finishing fourth at the 1993 NCAA championships and departing Lincoln with a bachelor's degree in physical education and health. Instead, he takes each challenge and uses it as a means to improve his life. Gardner, 43, said the bankruptcy has been difficult to go through, but it has . The four state qualifiers pair off. So when Rulon filed for bankruptcy and authorities collected his possession to be auctioned off, they couldnt touch the medal. One, two, three, state titles!. Its horrifying for me and my family.. The film immediately follows broadcast coverage of the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials ( full TV/stream schedule here ). [6], After the Athens Olympics, Gardner gained 210 pounds, culminating in a total body weight of 474 pounds. His family were also a key part of the Mormon community. He has a tradition every year on the anniversary where he watches the time pass and reflects on what he was doing, hour-by-hour, on that fateful night. Now its like, O.K., lets be smart about any decisions in the future, he said. Finally, its time. He and his first wife Sheri lost their daughter, Stacey in a terrible car accident on December 26, 1990. 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. This is their moment, and he wants to let them have it. Warr checked with his own coaches to make sure he wasnt doing anything against any rules and they said, No, you should let Rulon keep giving you advice. 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=1128334527, 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 19 December 2022, at 16:04. Youre the coolest, Moses tells him, as they both delight in the excuse to catch up and reminisce about their time on the show. If anyone above her had made any sort of decision like that, she wouldnt be privy to it. 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. 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. It lets us all know that were not untouchable.. 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 . . To get back to that weight. Gardner's snowmobile wreck made a lasting impression on him: He reflects on it frequently, and it has cost him feeling in his feet. Gardner, trained by Bas Rutten, won the bout via unanimous decision. Photo courtesy Olympic Channel. chants, Gardner fought off Karelin's aggressive attacks in the second period, and in overtime to capture the gold and the hearts of spectators around the world. For more information: RyanThorburn.com. Gardner is rolling two full suitcases behind him through the corridor outside a series of ballrooms at a DoubleTree hotel in New Jersey. Beating the 33-year-old Karelin wasn't something the 29-year-old farm boy, who didn't make his high . After 16 weeks on the show, Gardner had lost 173 pounds. He graduated from the University of NebraskaLincoln with a bachelor's degree in physical education. The finals are a spectacle. In episode 17, he arrived at the group weigh-in wearing his cut-off yellow T-shirt, jogged up a flight of stairs, turned to face his fellow contestants, clasped his hands behind his back and announced: This is gonna be my last time on the scale. 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