Rulon Gardner – Wrestling
The Greco-Roman wrestler won a
gold medal in the 2000 Olympic Games
in Sydney, when he defeated the
legendary Alexander Karelin, in what
came to be known as the “Miracle on
the Mat.” After a near-death
experience resulting from a
snowmobile accident and the
subsequent loss of a toe to
amputation, Rulon returned to the
mat to win a Bronze Medal in the
2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
Throughout his career, Rulon has
been recognized as a superb athlete
and role model. He has won the James
E. Sullivan “Amateur Athlete of the
Year” award, the ESPY Award for “US
Olympic Athlete of the Year,” the
Jesse Owens Award, the USOC
Sportsman of the Year award, the
ESPN Arete Award for “Superlative
Performance,” USA Today’s Sports
award for “Best Original Score,” was
named to the Sporting News’ “Top 100
Most Powerful” list in sports and
was selected by his peers to be the
USA Flag Bearer at the Closing
Ceremonies of the Sydney Olympic
Games. Rulon has also appeared on
The Late Late Show, Cold Pizza, The
Best Damn Sports Show Period, Conan
O’Brien, David Letterman, Good
Morning America, Jay Leno, The Oprah
Winfrey Show, Rosie O’Donnell and
the Today Show.
In
the event that Rulon Gardner is
unable to attend, People to People
Sports Ambassador Programs will make
every effort to find a suitable
replacement.
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