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Chat Reel: Rulon Gardner
U.S. Greco-Roman wrestler wins one for the ages
Latest: Monday October 09, 2000 09:49 PM
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Rulon Gardner waves the American flag after defeating previously undefeated Alexander Karelin of Russia. AP |
Growing up on a dairy farm in rural Wyoming, Rulon Gardner was a 125-pound fourth grader. Children called him "fatso."
Now they can call him an Olympic gold medalist.
Gardner, 29, accomplished the unthinkable in Sydney. He defeated Russian Greco-Roman wrestler Alexander Karelin, 1-0, in the super heavyweight division's gold-medal match. Karelin, universally considered the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler ever, had not lost in 13 years and he had not conceded a point in more than 10.
Gardner joined CNNSI.com on Monday, Oct. 9, 2000, for an exclusive chat. The transcript follows:
CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's chat with Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner, who upset Russian legend Alexander Karelin in the super heavyweight division of Greco-Roman wrestling in Sydney. Thanks so much for joining us, Rulon.
Rulon Gardner: Thanks for having me. Glad I could be here back in the U.S. and promoting my medal. I'm happy the Americans are so proud of the accomplishment that I made.
From PSAGHOST: I know that you have heard of this one before, but what was it like to beat one of the premier wrestlers in the world?
Rulon Gardner: Well, he has been said to be the best ever. To beat him, it is like a milestone in my career. I worked hard to get to this level, and now that I am at this level, it was an incredible feat to go out and do what I did and accomplish the goals I set forth for myself and the U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling team.
From Nabeeh Naimi in Vestman Island, Iceland: Hello, Champ and congrats. I saw the round live on my TV, and I couldn't believe my eyes. Alexander was my hero, but you did it! You must have trained really hard. At which point of the match did you feel in control? Was there any technical mistake that Alexander made? Meanwhile, cheers, Champ.
Rulon Gardner: Well, the point when I actually felt like I had control came when I got the gold medal around my neck. (Laughs.) At that point, I knew it would be a little hard to take it from me. But I took nothing for granted. Technically, he made one mistake. It was in the clinch position, and it happened when he went to readjust. When he re-adjusted, he got in a bad position and that caused him to have to re-adjust again. In the process, he had to re-lock, and he lost a point in that scenario.
From Guest: If somebody came up to you back during the Olympic Trials and said you would beat Karelin for the gold medal, what would you have told them?
Rulon Gardner: I'd tell them that they were crazy ... just crazy! Don't put me in his baseball pool or football pool cause then I would win!
From JSL: Have you spoken to Karelin since the match and what did he say to you?
Rulon Gardner: I saw him outside the gate at the Olympic village in Sydney. We were going for a ride on some Harley Davidsons. So I walked up and talked to him and said 'Hi.' At that point, he turned and walked across the street and just looked at me for about 10 minutes. He was staring at me pretty good. I just sat there and acted like a little schoolboy. I didn't want to do anything, because he has a lot of power.
From Bill Cogdill in Chadron, Neb.: As a former wrestler from Wyoming, we have met on the mat before. I now coach middle school wrestling and feel that the sport of wrestling is in trouble, with fewer and fewer kids going out for the sport. My question is: do you think wrestling gets the respect that it deserves? What can we do to get more kids more excited about wrestling? Congratulations to you.
Rulon Gardner: Bill, I am still waiting to pay you back for 'the throw!' I feel that this (Gardner's gold medal) will gain us some respect. I have been out here all around the United States, and people have so much interest in the sport of wrestling right now. It has just been incredible to see. About the decline (of wrestling), I think that if kids know that wrestling will develop them into better people, they will develop an interest and pursue wrestling. I want to say 'Hi' to Bill and John and your family.
From Guest: How has winning the gold medal changed your life?
Rulon Gardner: Well, just imagine sitting around for two months doing nothing and then having to run around 24 hours a day for two months with no sleep.
From Doug in Westwood, N.J.: Mr. Gardner, I am doing a report on you and all your hardships in life, and how you overcame them. I was wondering, what did it feel like when you were on the podium? What were you thinking?
Rulon Gardner: I felt a little shock, a little numbness. But I was proud to know that I defeated the best wrestler in the world, in all of history. It was my best wrestling moment ever.
From Ara in Irvine, Calif.: Hey Rulon, are you going to have a rematch with the mighty Karelin in the coming world championships, or not?
Rulon Gardner: Well, yes. If he continues wrestling. I have heard that he is thinking about retiring after this, but I hope not. I hope he continues, because next year, the world championships are in New York City.
From Andrea: What endorsement deals have you received?
Rulon Gardner: None yet ... and I am waiting for some every day.
From Guest: Are you going to write a book about your experience?
Rulon Gardner: Yes I am. But with whom, I don't know. Right now, we are sort of in the first stages of it.
From Joe Cunliffe in Gilroy, Calif.: Rulon, I grew up and went to high school with you, and it has been a pleasure to watch how you have conducted yourself since your win. I feel like I have won the gold medal. Just wondering what is next in store for you, and wanted to know if you remembered me?
Rulon Gardner: Of course I remember you, Joe. We always called him "Little Joe." (Laughs.) Right now, my next goal is to enjoy the ride that I am on right now. In the next six months, I plan on going out and focusing myself back on the training and all the rigors of practice every day. I plan on wrestling in the 2001 World Championships in New York, if I make the team. Hopefully, I'll win that, too.
From Tyler Haas in Bellingham, Wash.: What gave you the confidence to think that you could beat Karelin and what gave you the strength to beat him?
Rulon Gardner: What gave me the confidence to beat him was using God in my life and all the years of training that led up to the Olympics. My strength came from knowing that I was in shape and knowing that I could push myself harder than any other person on this Earth.
From Phillip in Cameron, Mo.: How did you do in high school wrestling?
Rulon Gardner: I only had one chance to wrestle at the Wyoming state championships. So, I was a one-time state champion in Wyoming. And the reason is because I have a brother, who is one year older, and he was a state champion in my junior year, in the same weight class. He also beat me all the time until he graduated.
From Andrea: Are you going to defend your title in Athens?
Rulon Gardner: Yes, I am.
From Cyrus in Bombay, India: First of all, I would like to congratulate you on your marvelous victory. What do you think you did different from all the other competitors Karelin has fought and beaten over the past 13 years?
Rulon Gardner: I think in wrestling there's a point of basically looking down the barrel of a gun and knowing when to flinch. And I hardly ever flinch. So I went in with an attitude of 'I have nothing to lose and everything to gain,' plus I had the last thing ... the word, confidence.
From Dwayne_Hawkins: Do you have any plans on joining the WWF or any other sports entertainment arena?
Rulon Gardner: No. Not right now. I still have goals in Greco-Roman wrestling.
From Guest: I heard a story that you once wrestled a cow. Is that true?
Rulon Gardner: I always wrestled with cows. On the farm, you just go in and wrestle them. We called it 'steer wrestling.' Sometimes you had to take them down and give them medicine or something. It gave me ability and agility and a desire to work hard. Cows are very strong, not as strong as a horse but they are definitely strong. They are 2000 pounds, so you can't just stand in front of one and stop it. You have to jump in front of them and wrestle them to the ground (laughing).
From Cyclone: When did you start wrestling Greco-Roman style?
Rulon Gardner: My first tournament was in 1993. In 1995, I had my second. I felt it was a little more challenging, at that point, to try to figure out my body type and what would be best for me.
From Angle4prez: When Kurt Angle joined the WWF, a lot of his peers turned on him. What were your feelings?
Rulon Gardner: I'm glad for him. He is making a living. Wrestling is a really tough sport to make a living in. A year ago, I didn't make very much money at all. I could make 100 times more money if I got into the professional wrestling ring
From Brian Keck: Hey Rulon ... do you feel you are out of Matt Gaffaries' shadow now?
Rulon Gardner: No ... I hope I am out of Brian Keck's shadow (laughing). I trained with Keck for about 10 years ... But seriously, yes, I do think I am out of Matt's shadows now. I hope so, anyway. Matt is a legend in America, and now I hope to be considered one of the best, just like he is.
From Jotadia: How do you maintain your training schedule on the limited funding that wrestling gets?
Rulon Gardner: Well, I'm married so my wife really helps me to train. And then this past year, I developed some sponsorships that have really helped me out.
CNNSI Host: : That's all the time we have today with Rulon Gardner. Thank you so much, Rulon, for joining us.
Rulon Gardner: Thank you so much for having me. I'm always up for talking to people who want to talk about wrestling. If they want to visit my website, www.rulongardner.com, they can go there and email me, look at my emails or look at all the other stuff.
CNNSI Host: Thanks for all your great questions. Sorry we did not have time to get through them all.
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