mls
04-27-2011, 09:29 PM
It is often said that the best way to determine a man's character is the way he handles adversity in his life. Rulon Gardner is the living embodiment of character and the sheer force of will to overcome even the greatest odds. One look at Gardner, even at his athletic peak, and you'd never assume the man would have amounted to anything in the olympics. A bi-product of being raised on a dairy farm, Gardner's build could be described as soft, but the physical strength he developed was astounding.
As a member of the 2000 United States Olympic Team and Heavyweight representative in Greco-Roman Wrestling, Gardner was a long shot to win. The field included Dmitry Debelka, Eddy Bengtsson, and of course the betting favorite and Greco-Roman icon Alexander Karelin. Karelin is widely considered to be the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler of all time, with an undefeated streak from 1987 to 2000, an Olympic Gold Medal winner at the 1988, 1992, and 1996 Olympic games. To say that the finals of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia were decided before either wrestler hit the mat, would be an extreme understatement. Gardner was a good Greco wrestler, but wasn't as technically sound as the "Russian Bear" and didn't have the college wrestling pedigree often associated with the great wrestlers. The match was brutal and Gardner scored the only point, the first point that Karelin conceded in six years, to secure the win and gold medal. It was an absolute upset and would sent shockwaves through the wrestling community.
After his Olympic win, Gardner would face as series of personal tragedies that would break most men. A snowmobiling accident would lead to Gardner having his middle toe amputated due to frostbite damage. He would also be involved in a motorcycling accident which caused a dislocated wrist, yet he was still able to win the U.S. Olympic trials and represent the United States again at the 2004 Summer Games. He was unable to catch lightning in a bottle twice and came away with a bronze medal. He'd leave his wrestling boots on the mat, signifying his retirement from the sport.
He recently spoke with Gary Abbott of USA wrestling and explained why he left the sport:
"I had committed eight years after my college career to international wrestling. Not knowing the outcome, I felt if I made one or two Olympic teams, my career would be fulfilled and then I would start pursuing my career as a teacher. I was willing to make that commitment. After winning the two Olympic medals, it was a natural transition to move on with my life," said Gardner.
Once he stopped competing, normal life began to catch up to him. Already a heavyset man, his weight ballooned up to 470 pounds. Without a strict training schedule, he succumbed to the everyday life that many World Class athletes have trouble handling once they leave athletics. While the caloric intake would often remain the same at first, without the active training, athletes often suffer from massive weight gain. Gardner further discussed in his interview with Abbott:
"I realized that I was in severe danger and going down a path where my life could end prematurely," said Gardner. "It was a choice to listen to people around me. The people in the wrestling community emphasized positive things about changing my life. The wrestlers were honest enough to confront me and say my health was a serious issue. I decided I need to get control of my life again and ask for help to get back on track."
Gardner would enter The Biggest Loser's 11th season and his initial weight was astonishing. He would step on the scales at 474 pounds and a BMI of 60.9%. But he would use this show as a reason to get back in shape. Over the 16 weeks on the show, his weight dropped from 474 pounds to 301 pounds before voluntarily leaving the show, 173 pounds lighter and well on his way to turning his life around.
Now 11 years after stunning the international wrestling community, Gardner is looking to return to a sport that made him a National Hero. He knows that the path won't be easy and doesn't expect any hand outs. He wants to give one last go at competitive wrestling before walking away for good. As he told Abbott:
"My competitive fire is back. There are different directions I would like to go with it. I am contemplating competing again. I’m back training. I have had an opportunity to go to Colorado Springs, and feel where my physical conditioning is and learn where my physical strength is. My muscle memory will not come back quickly. I know it is a multi-month project. But my body is in the process of coming back. I have personal goals I have set for myself for the next couple of years," said Gardner. "It feels scary. By winning an Olympic medal the last time you were on the mat, you leave with success. I was completely satisfied with that bronze and with my career. Now that I am back on the mat, I don’t feel like missing the last seven years has even affected me. The coaches that watched me at practice, I know they are excited about the possibility of me helping further the sport of Greco-Roman wrestling. If I don’t make the team, at least I hope to make the team better," he said.
For a normal man, this kind of comeback would seem far too difficult. But for a man like Rulon Gardner who knows how to overcome personal and physical tragedy, this is just another part of the journey. And he knows that he has much to offer the world once he leaves the sport, he just wants to do it on his own terms, and thats something everyone can respect.
http://www.headkicklegend.com/2011/4/27/2136789/rulon-gardner-attempting-to-make-a-comeback-to-greco-roman-wrestling
As a member of the 2000 United States Olympic Team and Heavyweight representative in Greco-Roman Wrestling, Gardner was a long shot to win. The field included Dmitry Debelka, Eddy Bengtsson, and of course the betting favorite and Greco-Roman icon Alexander Karelin. Karelin is widely considered to be the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler of all time, with an undefeated streak from 1987 to 2000, an Olympic Gold Medal winner at the 1988, 1992, and 1996 Olympic games. To say that the finals of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia were decided before either wrestler hit the mat, would be an extreme understatement. Gardner was a good Greco wrestler, but wasn't as technically sound as the "Russian Bear" and didn't have the college wrestling pedigree often associated with the great wrestlers. The match was brutal and Gardner scored the only point, the first point that Karelin conceded in six years, to secure the win and gold medal. It was an absolute upset and would sent shockwaves through the wrestling community.
After his Olympic win, Gardner would face as series of personal tragedies that would break most men. A snowmobiling accident would lead to Gardner having his middle toe amputated due to frostbite damage. He would also be involved in a motorcycling accident which caused a dislocated wrist, yet he was still able to win the U.S. Olympic trials and represent the United States again at the 2004 Summer Games. He was unable to catch lightning in a bottle twice and came away with a bronze medal. He'd leave his wrestling boots on the mat, signifying his retirement from the sport.
He recently spoke with Gary Abbott of USA wrestling and explained why he left the sport:
"I had committed eight years after my college career to international wrestling. Not knowing the outcome, I felt if I made one or two Olympic teams, my career would be fulfilled and then I would start pursuing my career as a teacher. I was willing to make that commitment. After winning the two Olympic medals, it was a natural transition to move on with my life," said Gardner.
Once he stopped competing, normal life began to catch up to him. Already a heavyset man, his weight ballooned up to 470 pounds. Without a strict training schedule, he succumbed to the everyday life that many World Class athletes have trouble handling once they leave athletics. While the caloric intake would often remain the same at first, without the active training, athletes often suffer from massive weight gain. Gardner further discussed in his interview with Abbott:
"I realized that I was in severe danger and going down a path where my life could end prematurely," said Gardner. "It was a choice to listen to people around me. The people in the wrestling community emphasized positive things about changing my life. The wrestlers were honest enough to confront me and say my health was a serious issue. I decided I need to get control of my life again and ask for help to get back on track."
Gardner would enter The Biggest Loser's 11th season and his initial weight was astonishing. He would step on the scales at 474 pounds and a BMI of 60.9%. But he would use this show as a reason to get back in shape. Over the 16 weeks on the show, his weight dropped from 474 pounds to 301 pounds before voluntarily leaving the show, 173 pounds lighter and well on his way to turning his life around.
Now 11 years after stunning the international wrestling community, Gardner is looking to return to a sport that made him a National Hero. He knows that the path won't be easy and doesn't expect any hand outs. He wants to give one last go at competitive wrestling before walking away for good. As he told Abbott:
"My competitive fire is back. There are different directions I would like to go with it. I am contemplating competing again. I’m back training. I have had an opportunity to go to Colorado Springs, and feel where my physical conditioning is and learn where my physical strength is. My muscle memory will not come back quickly. I know it is a multi-month project. But my body is in the process of coming back. I have personal goals I have set for myself for the next couple of years," said Gardner. "It feels scary. By winning an Olympic medal the last time you were on the mat, you leave with success. I was completely satisfied with that bronze and with my career. Now that I am back on the mat, I don’t feel like missing the last seven years has even affected me. The coaches that watched me at practice, I know they are excited about the possibility of me helping further the sport of Greco-Roman wrestling. If I don’t make the team, at least I hope to make the team better," he said.
For a normal man, this kind of comeback would seem far too difficult. But for a man like Rulon Gardner who knows how to overcome personal and physical tragedy, this is just another part of the journey. And he knows that he has much to offer the world once he leaves the sport, he just wants to do it on his own terms, and thats something everyone can respect.
http://www.headkicklegend.com/2011/4/27/2136789/rulon-gardner-attempting-to-make-a-comeback-to-greco-roman-wrestling