Rulon Gardner

Rulon Gardner is an Olympic gold medalist who pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history when he defeated previously unbeaten Russian wrestler Alexander Karelin at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. His story of overcoming impossible odds extends far beyond the mat, having survived being stranded overnight in a Wyoming snowstorm and a plane crash into a frozen lake.

The Greatest Upset in Olympic Wrestling History

Gardner grew up as the youngest of nine siblings on a farm in Wyoming, where hard work and determination were core values. Alexander Karelin had not lost a match in 13 years and had not given up a point in six years when Gardner defeated him for the gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling, shocking the world. Gardner went on to earn a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics despite losing circulation in one foot from his snowstorm survival ordeal, which required amputation of a toe.

A Life Defined by Refusing to Quit

Gardner’s multiple brushes with death and his ability to compete at the highest level despite devastating physical setbacks make his story one of the most powerful in all of sports. His keynotes draw on his extraordinary life to deliver gripping presentations on overcoming impossible odds, resilience in the face of life-threatening adversity, mental toughness and the refusal to quit, and the mindset that enables ordinary people to achieve extraordinary things.

Motivation

Inspiration