Rulon Gardner

Olympic Channel Releases Trailer for "Rulon Gardner Won't Die"

By United World Wrestling Press

The Olympic Channel has released the trailer for its upcoming documentary on 2000 Olympic gold medalist wrestlers Rulon GARDNER (USA). The film, "Rulon Gardner Won't Die" is set to be released on Wednesday, June 3rd.

From the Olympic Channel press release about the release of the trailer:

MADRID – 13 May 2020  At the Olympic Games Sydney 2000, Greco-Roman wrestler Rulon Gardner beat the world’s most dominant wrestler and three-time reigning Olympic champion, Aleksandr Karelin of Russia, propelling him to stardom. But what came after the ‘miracle on the mat’ was even more unpredictable. Gardner’s incredible story is featured in the upcoming Olympic Channel feature-length documentary, Rulon Gardner Won’t Die, which premieres worldwide on Wednesday, 3 June at olympicchannel.com and on its apps for mobile and connected TV devices.

Rulon Gardner Won’t Die, part of the Five Rings Films collection, tells the inspiring story of Rulon Gardner, the youngest of nine children from a Wyoming farming family, who twenty years ago shocked the world at the Olympic Games in Sydney and became an American icon overnight. Instant fame was then followed by tragedy and adversity including near-death experiences, crushing weight gain and bankruptcy. Now, he’s returned to wrestling as a high school coach and is trying to make sense of his legacy – both as an American icon and a cautionary tale for what can come after a miracle.

“This film is an honest look at not only the success I have achieved, but at the hardships that preceded and have followed my Olympic experience,” said Gardner. “I hope that people watching at home will find their own sources of motivation and determination - especially during tough and unpredictable times like we are going through now - and remember that when you get knocked down, you can always get up and persevere.”

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2026 U17 World Championships

Tovar Ends Colombia's 43-Year Wait for U17 World Gold

By Vinay Siwach

BAKU, Azerbaijan (August 1) -- "When you fall down, you got to keep going, come back up, can’t just let it bring you down."

Jovanni TOVAR (COL) said after falling short winning a medal at the 2025 U17 World Championships in Athens. He finished fifth.

WATCH: Jovanni Tovar Ends Colombia's 43-Year Wait for Gold

With lesson from Athens and a year of work behind him, Tovar came back to the U17 Worlds in 2026 and won a historic gold medal for Colombia, the country's first in 43 years. Luis PALOMINO (COL) had won the 62kg gold at the 1983 edition of the tournament.

Tovar lost in the quarterfinals and then in the bronze medal bout in 2025. But a year later, he dominated his way to gold, outscoring his opponents 37-1 in five bouts including a fall and two technical superiority wins.

Wrestling Jovanni TOVAR (COL)Jovanni TOVAR (COL) celebrates after winning the 55kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

In the final, Tovar faced Jakhongir TULKUNOV (UZB), who had finished eighth at the 2025 U17 World Championships. Tovar set up the first takedown using a long shot deep on Tulkulnov's leg during the Uzbekistan wrestler's activity clock.

Tulkunov, who had very open stance leaving a wide gap to attack his legs, kept trying to get his collar ties but Tovar never allowed him. Tovar hit an attack on the legs and converted it into a takedown before using an arm-bar to pin the Uzbekistan wrestler. However, time ran out for the break and Tovar led 7-0.

Tovar would see an opening 30 seconds into the second period and hit a double-leg attack and rolled through for a four-pointer which gave the technical superiority win with 1:18 left in the match.

Tovar's Results in U17 Wrestling World Championships 2026

Final: df. Jakhongir TULKUNOV (UZB), 11-0
Semifinal: df. Chase KARENBAUER (USA), 10-0
Quarterfinal: df. Prathmesh PATIL (IND), 2-1
Pre-Quarterfinals: Khusel Erdene PUREVBAATAR (MGL), via fall (8-0)
Qualification: Yusuf KOCAK (TUR), 6-0