Vital stats
Age: 32
Height/weight: 6-2, 260
Lives in: Cascade, Colo.
Today’s event
The super heavyweight Greco-Roman competition is on NBC between 7 and 11 p.m.
Day job
He trains and competes all year.
Olympic experience
He competed in the 2000 Olympics.
Background
Gardner jumped onto the world stage when he defeated the heavily favored Russian Alexander Karelin, who had never lost an international wrestling match, for the gold last time.
Check it out
On www.rulongardner.com, you can find photos of his trip to a U.S. aircraft carrier.
Early days
He started wrestling when he and his brother would wrestle to see who had to do the most chores on their Wyoming dairy farm.
Did you know?
He had the middle toe of his right foot amputated in March 2002 after suffering severe frostbite after he got lost on a snowmobile trip
Post-Olympic star potential
He’s a big friendly guy who drew raves while making the Conan-Letterman-Leno-Oprah tour after the last Olympics.
Star power: 9 out of 10.
In the booth Wrestling broadcast team
Russ Hellickson: The wrestling coach at Ohio State has produced at least one All-American for 14 straight seasons.
Jeff Blatnick: The 1984 Olympic gold medalist is a motivational speaker and a spokesperson for numerous organizations.
2000 medalists
Super heavyweights
Gold: Rulon Gardner, U.S.
Silver: Alexander Karelin, Russia
Bronze: Dmitry Debelka, Belarus
