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.”

For more information be sure to follow United World Wrestling on InstagramFacebook or Twitter. 

#WrestleAlexandria

WATCH: 10 women's wrestling from Egypt

By Vinay Siwach

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (March 2) -- In the absence of Japan, Ukraine and China dominated the competition at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series event. Ukraine outplaced China with ease and will continue to battle for the second spot below Japan this year.

With more and more wrestlers moving into the Olympic weight classes, a few weight classes saw surprising results but some other stalwarts returned to form before the long season which also includes the World Championships.

GOLD: 50kg - Meng FAN (CHN) vs. Ziqi FENG (CHN)

GOLD: 53kg - Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) vs. Li DENG (CHN)

Semifinal: 57kg - Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) vs. Alexandria TOWN (CAN) [The gold medal bout between Town and Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) did not take place after the later pulled out injured]