Everyone is focused, with the pressure of lifelong individual dreams, team titles and possibly college scholarships on the line. Discover Rulon Gardner's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Gardner was born on Aug. 16, 1971, in Afton, in western Wyomings Star Valley near the Idaho border. In 2004, he won a bronze medal at the Olympics. He deserves all the accolades that he has.. Gardners life in the public eye has been a twisting journey of highs and lows. A potential new client comes in for what Rulon calls a one-on-one. School was a struggle for Rulon due to a learning disability. However, the future Olympian did not immediately command his sport on the farm or even at Star Valley High School. Olympic gold medalist and (until recently) presumed "Biggest Loser" frontrunner Rulon Gardner has something to say about his sudden and shocking voluntary exit . Making sure the next 20 years have a lot more ups than downs. 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. At the end of practice, Gardner has the team sit on a rolled-up mat in the corner of the room so he and the assistants can deliver a speech. Rulon has never dwelled on the negatives in his life. The auction of some of Gardner's most treasured items will seek to pay off debt in a $3.9 million bankruptcy case. [21], Gardner attempted a comeback for the 2012 Olympics[22] 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. The memories and Sharpie ink fade with time. His coworker at JRI, Lydia Woltjen, jokes that shes sure to wear a seatbelt when Rulon is driving. That season featured partners competing in tandem. 9 of 10. In just one year, he went through rehabilitation and was back on the mat. Rulon began a regular wrestling season while in junior high and continued with the wrestling seasons until he graduated with a degree in physical education from the University of Nebraska. Rulon Gardner's age is 51. 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. But he also knows hes Rulon Gardner. He played the part. ATHENS - It doesn't matter what Rulon Gardner does in these Olympics, or for the rest of his life, because he will forever be attached to the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2000, the 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. Winning the Gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 came through extreme dedication and sacrifice. The night before the tournament, he stopped at a buffet restaurant for dinner. . There was plenty of time to do some soul-searching during a long bus ride home. April 28, 2011, 9:25 AM PDT. But he just loves that little red car, with the odometer approaching 300,000 miles. Nine minutes. 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. She was the daughter of the apostle of the LDS church. . Keep going. Rulon Gardner. American Olympian who competed in the 2000 Olympic games in Greco-Roman wrestling, winning a gold medal in the 130 kg weight class. Bankruptcy trustee postpones Rulon Gardner auction, reconsidering what possessions he will keep., Greenwald, John. 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. Few knew the ironic twist, the only reason he even had a chance to earn back his medal. It lets us all know that were not untouchable.. 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. Empty shelves line the wall to his right, but various items from his vast memorabilia collection fill the ones to his left. He turns the corner and ditches the Velcro brace on his right wrist. Gardner stands behind him, hands on Jacks shoulders, imparting a few final words of wisdom as they wait for his mat assignment. Back down from the podium, Herrimans state champions pose in every combination for their own photos, iPhone camera rolls filling up with teammates, parents, siblings and coaches in various groupings. 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. Gardner is known for his defeat of Aleksandr Karelin at the 2000 Summer Olympics. But he has a tendency to go there and not execute.". He attributes his strength to the physical labor that he performed growing up and working on the family's dairy farm.[4]. 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. When he was eventually rescued, he was experiencing hypothermia and severe frostbite. 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. There are two lightweights and two heavyweights, making for convenient practice partners. Search instead in Creative? Getting healthy and keeping the weight down. Practically speaking, he is coaching more than that. 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. His two lightweights are both eliminated on Day 1 but the two heavier weights, Talmage Carman and Traycee Norman, win two matches apiece. Do you pay other people? 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. They all smile as he pulls them in tight. All I can do is use the experiences of my life to inject knowledge into our youth, Gardner says in the film. The youngest of nine children, Rulon Gardner was born to Reed and Virginia Gardner on August 16, 1971. After ballooning to 474 pounds, the gentle giant even appeared on televisions The Biggest Loser before making a comeback attempt for the 2012 Games in London. Due to the physical damage, a saw had to be used to remove his boots. BYU-Idaho) in Rexburg, Idaho and as a sophomore won the NJCAA national heavyweight wrestling championship. Rulon Gardners income source is mostly from being a successful Wrestler. Thats why people dont know the full story. His win made him the only American to ever win both a World and Olympic title in Greco-Roman wrestling. Then they both win and advance. Gardner attended junior college at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) in Rexburg, Idaho, and as a sophomore won the NJCAA national heavyweight wrestling championship. You cant sit and dwell on it. The Herriman High wrestling room has one regulation-sized circle, and the dark blue mat extends out to light blue padded walls. Rulon Gardner has almost died quite a few times in his 39 yearsjust how many is open to interpretation. Oh. The arena explodes as the referee slaps the mat to signal a pin, and Rulon claps excitedly. Rulon moseys around and cant stop himself from giving advice to some of the wrestlers on other teams. Sports Illustrated is here! he tells him. It opened in November after Gardner spent more than two years trying to . He competed at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics and won the gold medal in 2000, defeating Russia's Aleksandr Karelin in the final. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 16 August. Curbs can be trouble if hes not watching his landing spot. First published on February . Karelin at the time had not had a point scored on him in 6 years and . Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 49 years old? 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 laments how people saw his name and the word bankruptcy in headlines and assumed the worst. The 51-year-old wrestler was born in . That one stung. [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. The American gold medallist stars in the Olympic Channel film 'Rulon', which will be released on Friday, 2nd April 2021. Irving said that at first, the film feels like the climax of Gardner's life is only 37 minutes in (when he wins the gold), but it's really . 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. He was rescued the next morning, but hypothermia and frostbite meant that he lost a toe. During a snowmobiling trip with some friends in Star Valley, Wyoming, he became separated from the group and fell into the freezing Salt River with his snowmobile. You want me to come give a speech? This time Gardner stayed upright, and the two massive men danced chest-to-chest through a scoreless three-minute first period. His first wife is believed to be Zola. [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. I surprised myself probably more than them.. 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. Attendees stand in line for a minute of his attention. Theres things that need to be addressed in my life back home, Rulon told the camera after his announcement. In January 2011, he was announced as a contestant on season 11 of the American reality television show, The Biggest Loser. Options: Reply Quote Posted by: PtLoma ( ) Date: April 29, 2011 05:50PM Gardner practices twice a day while being coached by Steve Fraser, who won America's first Greco-Roman gold, back in 1984. Jack has his head down, arms grabbing the trusses along the side of the metal bleachers. 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. 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. 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. The former Olympic champion said he lost 150 pounds, with his ultimate goal being making it back to the Olympics.. He was raised on a dairy farm in Wyoming, where the family grew crops and milked cows twice a day. Shortly after, he became a national junior college heavyweight wrestling champion and walked on to the University of Nebraskas football team. He didn't even start wrestling until his freshman year of high school and became a state champ his senior year. Despite failed comeback, Rulon Gardner is not finished wrestling., Clarke, John. Rulon Gardner finally explains leaving The Biggest Loser Ruby Turpin July 4, 2011 Gossip, Rulon Gardner, The Biggest Loser Rulon Gardner hasn't exactly been silent about his early. His practice room simply cant have the same intensity as the ones at USA Wrestling or the University of Nebraska. This Time, Rulon Gardner Survived Small Plane Crash. Wrestling comeback in Rulon's plans. 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. Rulon stretches constantly, and likes to lean against railings to relieve the pressure. As a senior in high school, The Wyoming native won a state wrestling title and placed second in the shot put. 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 in the end, he found his inner steel. Thats how thick the NDA was, he says. It tarnishes your name, Gardner said of going through an ordeal like that. The finals are a spectacle. So, how much is Rulon Gardner worth at the age of 51 years old? Im not happy about it. Rulon says he and Harper spoke in one of the shows vans for an hour and a half after he announced his exit. One, two, three, state titles!. Former athlete goes broke is a common trope, oftentimes the result of overspending or falling down the wrong path. While the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down life for so many in the country, Rulon has kept moving. In the second period, Karelin quickly put his prey in a lock that opponents rarely escaped from. 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. So can wrestling mats. The sun is starting to set. But the shaved head and approachable demeanor remain. Rulon learned about hard work and determination which became core values in Rulon Gardners life. After the referee raised Gardner's arm as victor, the modern-day "Alexander the Great" walked off the mat for good, immediately retiring from the sport he had controlled for 15 years. Finally, its time. But none of that is to say Talmage and Traycee dont want it. John Daley Reporting Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner heads to Boston today for a speaking engagement with a new story of survival to tell. [18], After the 2000 Olympics he suffered a series of injuries from both a snowmobiling and motorcycle accident. Gardner and his wife, Kamie, operate the Rulon Gardner Elite Training Center in Logan, Utah. ], Cara Castronuova was a trainer on the show for only one season, which happened to be Rulons. 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. Some kids want it more than others, but few want it as bad as he used to, 20 or 30 years ago. L-R . 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. As he weaves around trucks, zipping up I-15 North through Provo, Utah, he may be the biggest human on the highway,. His win made him the only American to ever win both a World and Olympic title in Greco-Roman wrestling. They relocate to Lydias desk in the main entryway. Rulon Gardner: The Man Who Wouldn't Die Olympic hero Rulon Gardner has fallen off trucks, tumbled off tractors, and gotten stuck in a baler. That would be impossible. The Summer Olympics: Alexander Karelin., Harris, Martin. And Ive never heard a word. Its been nine years. 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. He hopes now that the high school season is over, he can refocus on himself. Its a long story. He and his first wife Sheri lost their daughter, Stacey in a terrible car accident on December 26, 1990. When he was eventually rescued, he was experiencing hypothermia and severe frostbite. In one photo, egged on by the people around him, Rulon grabs both state champs in playful headlocks, one under each arm. 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. He stares at a row of signed baseballs and muses that he threw the ceremonial first pitch at a 2000 ALDS game in Yankee Stadium to Jos Canseco, so one of them is probably signed by him. 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 . For more information about our sponsors and the people behind WyoHistory.org, visit our About Us page: Carbon County School District No. And he seems fine with the arrangement. When youre famous, he says matter-of-factly, people just give you stuff.. 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. Rulon Gardner has lost 150 pounds and is targeting a comeback Credit: INSTAGRAM. He wants the best for all his kids. Gardner, now a 51-year-old, wants to compete again at the 2024 Summer Olympics. According to court documents, they have $3,116 in combined monthly income. Rulons wrestling career began when he was six years old. 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. Most Olympic champions will tell you that self-belief is key to being the best in the world. Both will advance to Day 2, starting with the semifinals in the morning, two wins away from the top spot on the podium. He wont say. [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. "I think (Byers) has more talent than anybody else in the world," Gardner told the Colorado Springs Gazette. The three men swam for more than an hour in 44-degree water to reach the shore. In track and field, as a senior, he took second at the state finals in the shot put. And I knew I was doing it because I love it.". Someday the book will come out, Gardner says. . She showed him real estate purchase agreements, contracts and more. 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 intervening years for Gardner have been more down than up, unlike his weight: an Olympic bronze medal in 2004; retirement; divorce and marriage to his third wife; trouble financing a gym;. Contact us at editor@wyohistory.org for information on levels and types of available sponsorships. They spent the night in freezing temperatures with no fire or shelter. Rulon has to toe the line. 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. Gardner stands in front of the crowd and runs through his well-rehearsed life story. She also appreciated his respect for her as a woman, saying it can sometimes be tough for her to earn the trust and respect of male clients, but that wasnt the case with Rulon. It helps me get back on my feet and take on the world again.. The youngest of nine children, Rulon Gardner was born to Reed and Virginia Gardner on August 16, 1971. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. Rulon Ellis Gardner (born August 16, 1971) is an American retired Greco-Roman Olympic Gold Medalist wrestler. 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. 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. At a buffet restaurant for dinner the show for only one season, which happened to be used to 20. 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