Rulon Gardner is a Survivor

Rulon Gardner is a Survivor


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Shelley Osterloh ReportingRulon Gardner is looking to become the first US Greco Roman wrestler to win two gold medals. But first he had to survive three matches today to make it tomorrow's semi finals.

Gardner has a good record for survival. Before going to Athens, Gardner took our Shelley Osterloh to the mountain area where he nearly lost his life. She reports, the same qualities that get Gardner in to trouble may also make him a formidable opponent on the mat.

Rulon Gardner is man who thrives in the face of challenge. In 2000 nobody thought he could beat a three time Olympic champion from Russia, but he did.

Two years later he nearly died when he was stranded overnight in sub-degree temperatures on a Wyoming mountainside. His feet were so severely frost bitten, doctors told him he would never walk again, but he did.

And who believed he could ever wrestle in the Olympics again? Probably only Rulon Gardner. Recently he took me to the area where he spent that long cold night, and talked about how that and other life challenges only strengthened this determination.

Rulon Gardner: "I'm about ten miles away from home right now, and so to come back here, and especially come back up here where I was stranded, it's a gentle reminder of what I've been through and what I've continued to go through in my life and continued to progress. And I think making it back to Athens is a final note."

In February of 2002 Rulon Gardner spent 18 freezing hours in wet clothes and boots that turned to solid ice when he slipped down a steep canyon into a river with his snowmobile.

Rulon Gardne: "At that point you can lose your hands, lose our feet, cause they really don't matter compared to life."

His body temperature dropped down to 80-degrees. Through inner strength and determination he fought to stay awake and alive.

Rulon Gardner: “I think it’s my conditioning, and my tenacity to not quit."

After skin grafts and four surgeries, doctors managed to save his feet, but he did lose one toe. Even that might have ended his wrestling career. But Gardner was determined to defend his Olympic medal in Athens. He says the experience taught him not to take success or life for granted.

Rulon Gardner: "I think it made me appreciate life more. Understanding that we are here, and we are lucky that we are here, we are blessed that we are here on this earth."

Then in March, Gardner was going about 30 miles an hour on his motorcycle when he hit a car. He says he flew off the bike, but instinctively rolled as he had been trained in wrestling, and received only minor injuries.

Then, weeks before the Olympic Trials while playing basketball, Gardner broke his hand in several places and had to have pins inserted. Still he fought back the pain to win his spot on the 2004 Olympic team.

His family says he's always been a dare-devil and that risky behavior sometimes gets him hurt.

Virginia Gardner, Rulon's Mother: "He's always been out to prove himself, that he can do things. And as he's grown older, partly because he did have a learning deficit, because he was the youngest, he always had to show them, that he wasn't the weakest and that he could do more than they thought he could."

But Gardner says it’s that same attitude that helped him survive and achieve what others think is impossible.

Rulon Gardner: "And for me growing up here in a small town, I wanted to go out an prove that I was good enough to get a college education. I was good enough to be a good wrestler, good enough to make the Olympic team. Then good enough to win the Olympics. And I want to be good enough to as a two time Olympic champion and then walk away I’m happy that part of my life is settled. And then I want to move on other next part."

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