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Rulon Gardner avoids scale for weigh-in at U.S….
Thursday, May 14th 2026

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Rulon Gardner avoids scale for weigh-in at U.S. trials; comeback comes to end

Before practice, Rulon shakes hands with friends and prepares for an intense session of wrestling.Former Olympic gold and bronze medal wrestler Rulon Gardner is currently training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Gardner, who has already won an Olympic gold medal in 2000, and a bronze in 2004, said he wants to give it one more try this summer in London. He had officially retired after winning his bronze in 2004 but after a discouraging experience on the reality show The Biggest Loser, he wants to prove to all and himself that he is still the gold medalist wrestler he was years ago. If he makes it he will be the oldest wrestler to make the team.ÒIÕm back here to prove myself again, and show that I still have what it takes to be an athlete at this level,Ó Gardner said.The 40-year-old wrestler is also known for his appearance on the 11th season of the reality TV show ÒThe Biggest Loser.Ó He said his experience on the show motivated him to get back into wrestling.Gardner will compete in the 2012 U.S. Olympic trials for Greco-Roman wrestling April 21-22 in Iowa City, Iowa. Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Before practice, Rulon shakes hands with friends and prepares for an intense session of wrestling.Former Olympic gold and bronze medal wrestler Rulon Gardner is currently training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Gardner, who has already won an Olympic gold medal in 2000, and a bronze in 2004, said he wants to give it one more try this summer in London. He had officially retired after winning his bronze in 2004 but after a discouraging experience on the reality show The Biggest Loser, he wants to prove to all and himself that he is still the gold medalist wrestler he was years ago. If he makes it he will be the oldest wrestler to make the team.ÒIÕm back here to prove myself again, and show that I still have what it takes to be an athlete at this level,Ó Gardner said.The 40-year-old wrestler is also known for his appearance on the 11th season of the reality TV show ÒThe Biggest Loser.Ó He said his experience on the show motivated him to get back into wrestling.Gardner will compete in the 2012 U.S. Olympic trials for Greco-Roman wrestling April 21-22 in Iowa City, Iowa. Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
By | newsroom@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
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Rulon Gardner’s historic bid to make the Olympic team has ended. Gardner will not compete in the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials this weekend after not participating in the weigh-in in Iowa City, Iowa, this afternoon.

Gardner that he still needed to lose weight but thought he could make the 264.5-pound limit.

“I’m going to be within two or three pounds of making 264,” he said. “I don’t want to work so hard to get so close and fail.”

However, when the weigh-in was held today, he did not show. According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, he was about five pounds overweight, and didn’t step on the scale at the weigh-in. The Gazette reports that doctors shut down Gardner’s weight cut attempts today after he had medical problems.

Gardner refused to disclose what he weighed earlier this week to Post reporter John Meyer.

At age 40, Gardner was attempting a remarkable comeback. He won gold in Sydney in 2000 and bronze in Athens in 2004. He began a comeback bid a year ago after reaching 474 pounds and going on “The Biggest Loser.”

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