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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#Wrestle4Fun

UWW launches Wrestle4Fun toolkit and updates

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 6) -- UWW launches Wrestle4Fun toolkit following an extensive review of the Wrestle4Fun programme by the UWW Development Department and the creation of new videos, the Wrestle4Fun toolkit is available to all who wish to introduce wrestling in schools and to young children.

The content and videos are available on the UWW Academy platform: Wrestle4Fun | Academy | United World Wrestling (uww.org). The lesson are located in the Resources section and the videos will be in the Video Library. 

The programme aims at assisting Physical Education teachers and/or club coaches in introducing wrestling to children from ages 4 up to 16 in a pedagogical fun approach.  This approach is based around the Teaching Games for Understanding concept.  Children will be able to learn the sport of wrestling through fun games and activities.  

There are 5 stages based on developmental level.  Each stage is divided into 15 lessons for a total of 75 lessons.  Each lesson plan has videos to illustrate the activities and skills.  Collectively, there are over 200 videos within the programme. 

We hope that these tools will help you introduce wrestling to young children in a safe/healthy environment.

Currently, Wrestle4Fun is only available in English.  In time, the programme will be developed in additional languages.

For any further information or assistance you may require, please feel free to contact Zach Errett, UWW Education Manager and/or Deqa Niamkey, UWW Development Director for any questions or further information.