Gardner and his wife, Kamie, operate the Rulon Gardner Elite Training Center in Logan, Utah. On-deck wrestlers stay on the floor in the warmup area as those with a longer wait time retreat to the bleachers. 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. In the second period, Traycee connects on a headlock and sends his opponent to his back. 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. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. 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. After the Athens Olympics, Rulon had gained 210 pounds, culminating in total body weight of 474 pounds. Castranuova says she thought Rulon would win the whole competition and was shocked when he left. After the speeches, assistant coach Rad Martinez gathers everyone in the center of the mat. rulon gardner first wifecopper infused socks side effects. I was offered millions by the WWE to compete for them and I turned it down, Gardner said. 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. During his efforts to regain his composure and regroup, he fell into the freezing Salt River with his snowmobile. Gardner, now a 51-year-old, wants to compete again at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Rulon was partially on the hook. Rulon Gardner is back at 52 years old and is looking to compete in Paris 2024 Olympics. Hell take five minutes with someone or an hour with someone if they want. Beating the 33-year-old Karelin wasn't something the 29-year-old farm boy, who didn't make his high . I feel that my personal goals have been reached here on The Biggest Loser, and its my time to go home. Hes a natural people pleaser, but now he asks for things in return. The harrowing experience cost Gardner the middle toe on his right foot, which he keeps in formaldehyde in a jar in his refrigerator, to remind him of his mortality. Gardner defeated Russia's renowned wrestler and three-time Olympic gold medalist, Alexander Karelin. 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. Karelin was previously unbeaten for 13 years in international competition. Nicole died due to complications from glioblastoma, a rare. 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. 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. Some kids want it more than others, but few want it as bad as he used to, 20 or 30 years ago. In 2001, Gardner added a world championship to his list of accomplishments with a victory in the finals over Mihaly Deak-Bardos of Hungary. 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. He gives the impression that hed recall the date even if Valentines Day werent an easy one to remember. Rulon Ellis Gardner (born August 16, 1971) is an American retired Greco-Roman Olympic Gold Medalist wrestler. Months after winning his gold medal, Rulon's toe was amputated . The culprit: one of his own wrestlers. 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. Its nice to be able to do this, Gardner says. In 2002, Gardner went snowmobiling with some friends in the mountains surrounding Star Valley, Wyoming. He made another comeback attempt before the 2016 Rio Olympics at age 44. After several hours in his makeshift shelter, he stopped shivering, which led him to believe that he was dying. Regain my work ethic. From the Wyoming farm where he grew up the youngest of nine siblings, through his struggles as a student with dyslexia, all the way to the Olympic medal stand, to his night on the mountain and back to the Olympic podium. The short version, Rulon says, is that he was presented an opportunity to invest in a real estate venture in 2006. 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 2012, after trimming down on the show, Gardner mounted a comeback attempt for the London Olympics, eight years after medaling in Athens. Thats why I work so hard right now, to try to regain my name. He deserves all the accolades that he has.. Since making Olympic history in 2000, the wrestler has battled his share of adversity. Its Day 2 of the state tourney. 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. He wouldnt have his gold medal without it. The four state qualifiers pair off. Gardner attended junior college at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) in Rexburg, Idaho, and as a sophomore won the NJCAA national heavyweight wrestling championship. Rulon wrestled his brother Reynold to break up the monotony. 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. We are committed to making our website ADA compliant. 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. Before the 2004 Olympic Trials he was in a motorcycle accident and then dislocated his right wrist punching the bleachers after losing his cool during a pickup basketball game. Rulon Ellis Gardner (born August 16, 1971) is an American retired Greco-Roman Olympic Gold Medalist wrestler. She showed him real estate purchase agreements, contracts and more. After graduating from the University of Nebraska, Rulon continued his Olympic wrestling pursuit with full-time dedication. he missed his wife, he had . Now Im big again, I need to go back and get up early in the morning, set time aside. 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. His body reminds him of the first time they wrestled each other, the semifinals of the 1997 world championships, when Karelin dropped Gardner on his head and broke two bones in his neck. Here comes Traycee, running in to compete on the same mat. Its one in a long line of injuries he has battled throughout his life. As a pro boxer, she identified with his wrestler mentality. Not everyone can experience the Hollywood ending Gardner delivered in defeating Karelin for an Olympic gold medal. Empty shelves line the wall to his right, but various items from his vast memorabilia collection fill the ones to his left. 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. He was the first contestant to ever quit the NBC reality TV . Is this who you want to be to the youth of America?". He has been impaled on an arrow, broken his neck,. 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. They drop $20 bills on the table for books with personalized inscriptions. ET. Im the eye candy, Rulon jokes. He is 48 now, sells insurance and has a second job coaching wrestling at a Salt Lake City-area high school. Showing Editorial results for rulon gardner. @5PtMove. [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. 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. Hes dealing with coaches, parents andfor the first time this yearcollege recruiters. Rulon Gardner caused one of the greatest upsets in Olympic wrestling history when he won gold at Olympic Games Sydney 2000. Rulon Gardner has almost died quite a few times in his 39 yearsjust how many is open to interpretation. 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. For more information, visit the website linked above. "The gold medal was so far away from what I thought I could do in my life. The night before the tournament, he stopped at a buffet restaurant for dinner. There is one tangible positive in Rulons life as a direct result of his appearance on The Biggest Loser. Its in this room that Gardner, who became Herrimans head coach before the 201819 season, wants to impart the wisdom that made him an Olympic champion, and that he believes is his duty to pass on to the next generation of wrestlers. It may not always be easy, but Rulon has no plans to quit. After several hours in his makeshift shelter, he stopped shivering, which led him to believe that he was dying. 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. May 31, 2020. And that was the real reason that I was coming to The Biggest Loser. Photo courtesy Olympic Channel. In 2007, Rulon and two friends crashed a lightweight aircraft into Lake Powell, Utah. That was all it took to change Rulon Gardner's life, for better or worse one nine-minute wrestling match against a legendary Russian, and here he is, almost seven years later, still riding the wave of his Olympic triumph in Sydney. Do you pay other people? Today, Gardner has taken the lessons learnt and built a new life for himself. Trending News. Rulon came back to the Olympics in 2004 to defend his title and took home the Bronze medal. Now, standing in the dark, he watches the kids under the spotlight trying to earn their own. 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. Gardner was the first contestant ever to . The specifics, he says, he really cant get into. 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. Herriman has a section in the arenas upper deck for teammates, parents and supporters. Gardner is a thrill-seeker, and later on that year was involved in a motorcycle accident. Gardner won his cherished (and oft-photographed) gold by beating the seemingly unbeatable Karelin. The Herriman High wrestling room has one regulation-sized circle, and the dark blue mat extends out to light blue padded walls. He nearly died of hypothermia after suffering in the elements for 17 hours. 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. Its like hes sitting in the strongman booth at a carnival and they want to document his strength. But policy is policy. Rulon Ellis Gardner (born August 16, 1971) is an American retired Greco-Roman Olympic Gold Medalist wrestler. Ultimately, his snowmobile became stuck between two large boulders. 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. They dont need him there. After that its club season until April, followed by tournaments and clinics through the summer, not to mention occasional speaking engagements across the country. Oh. 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. [19], Gardner competed once in mixed martial arts, and in 2004 he became the host for a professional wrestling league called Real Pro Wrestling. Gardner is keeping busy in his late 40s. She was the daughter of the apostle of the LDS church. He knows a few things about planning for the unexpected and would be happy to answer your questions about any type of insurance. Four years later, Gardner was the last big man standing in Sydney. He was raised on a dairy farm in Wyoming, where the family grew crops and milked cows twice a day. Unable to move any farther, Gardner decided to build a shelter and wait for a rescue team. Gardner embarked on his latest career two years ago in suburban Utah. His headgear is on, his knee pad is up and his warmup outfit is cast aside, as hes down to just his singlet. Its about that time, Rulon says. Since then, Rulon has faced multiple life-threatening situations and survived every one through sheer grit and an absolute refusal to quit. A few months later, Rulon shared that hes been doing well. [18], After the 2000 Olympics he suffered a series of injuries from both a snowmobiling and motorcycle accident. 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. She used that money to get a loan for $1.2 million, which later had to be repaid with substantial interest and late fees. These are always fun crowds, Gardner says quietly. On the posters, Rulon is frozen in time, even as those days move further in the rearview. When he was eventually rescued, he was experiencing hypothermia and severe frostbite. Read more of SI's Daily Cover stories here. Several investments, including developing a hot springs resort and opening a gym, meant he owed around $3 million. There are two Patriots balls, one with the Super Bowl XXXVIII logo and one with signatures from a bunch of players. Meant he owed around $ 3 million list of accomplishments with a victory in the morning set! 2001, Gardner decided to build a shelter and wait for a rescue.... Was amputated speeches, assistant coach Rad Martinez gathers everyone in the Center of greatest. Gardner Elite Training Center in Logan, Utah severe frostbite crowds, Gardner was the first to! 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