Rulon Gardner

Was an Olympic wrestler who shocked the world in the 2000 Olympics by beating Alexander Kerelin. Kerelin had not been beaten in many years. In fact he had not had a point scored against him in many years either. IOC officials were there to give him another Gold Medal.

Gardner's training did not start in a weight room or Olympic plaza, but on the family dairy farm. The youngest of nine children, he built strength by bucking hay bales, hauling calves off in subzero weather to the safety of the barn, milking cows, moving sprinkler pipe, and other farm chores.

He was large for his age and struggled academically and socially in school. He did, however, excel in football, wrestling, and track and field. Sports did provide a break from the farm; however, chores were waiting to get done when he got home, and had to be done before school.

Following high school he received scholarship offers in football and wrestling at Ricks and nearby Wyoming community colleges. He went to Ricks on a Wrestling scholarship were he won the NJCAA championship for his weight his sophmore year.

Following Ricks he went to Nebraska were he had respectable showings in the big eight and ncaa tournaments. He also took a shot at the championship cornhusker football team as well though he never played for them.

Following his wrestling eligibility he stayed at Nebraska until he received a teaching degree and dealt with discontent faculty before he received his degree. Has yet to teach in a classroom though. He also trained in Greco Roman Wrestling. He barely missed the 1996 olympics in Atlanta due to a mistiming. He trained and made it to the 2000 olympics though. Following his victory he won the 2001 world championships of wrestling as well.

He won the bronze in the 2004 olympics in Athens too as numerous injuries hurt his wrestling chances. He left his shoes on the mat as a symbol of retirement. Since Retirement he has started in Marshal Arts and been a motivational speaker as well. Presently has a store that sales food and other paraphanalia store in AFton Wyoming.

He has been very accident prone starting with several accidents in school and on family farm. He also suffered hypothermia when he got lost snowmobiling near his home town and went in water, Overcame that obstacle to wrestle. Been involved in car motorbike accidents, a plane crash in lake powell in which he got out in 44 degree weather and survived 28 degrees with no food or shelter and other near mishaps. His family has had many trials too growing up with death and business losses.

He has overcame many odds basically wrestled all his life with challenges to win a gold medal and be a great inspiration to many people.

Here is his homepage which includes his impressive victory. http://www.rulonGardner.com/index.html