Rulon Gardner
The farm boy who ended a 13-year streak
- Born
- August 16, 1971, Afton, Wyoming, US
- Nationality
United States- Height
- 187 cm (6′2″)
- Style
- Farm-strong heavyweight
- Weight
- 130 kg, 120 kg
- Active
- 1997–2004
- Status
- Retired · age 55
The medals
Olympic gold + bronze; 2001 world title
The story
ulon Gardner grew up the youngest of nine children on a dairy farm in Afton, Wyoming, and credited farm work for his strength. He was an All-American at Nebraska but never an NCAA champion, and he arrived at the Sydney 2000 Olympics as a huge underdog against A. K., who had not lost in 13 years. Under the rules of the day, the second period began in a locked clinch; A. K.'s hands came apart, giving Gardner the only point of the final. He won 1–0, then showed it was no fluke by taking the 2001 world title. Despite losing a toe to frostbite after a snowmobile accident, he won bronze at Athens 2004 and left his shoes on the mat to retire. He also beat Olympic judo champion Hidehiko Yoshida in a Pride MMA bout.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- Olympic champion, 130 kg (2000)
- Olympic bronze medallist, 120 kg (2004)
- World champion, 130 kg (2001)
- NJCAA heavyweight champion (Ricks College)
- James E. Sullivan Award (2001)
- USOC Sportsman of the Year (2001)
- National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Distinguished Member (2010)
Defining matches
Own the clinch: lock your hands, keep your elbows tight and your hips low, and never be the one who lets go. Gardner won Olympic gold because his grip held and A. K.'s did not.
1998–2012
