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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UWW, ICSD sign four-year MoU to promote wrestling

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (November 15) -- United World Wrestling and the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) took a significant step to promote wrestling, signing a four-year Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday.

The MoU will enable both organizations to work together to help and assist deaf wrestlers around the world to take up, participate, and develop in wrestling.

Both UWW and ICSD will also work to develop wrestling for deaf women, search for common strategies, and establish actions to preserve wrestling against the dangers of doping and violence. UWW has also agreed to collaborate for the training of officials.

As the Deaflympics, World Championships, and other tournaments are already in place, UWW will, in the future, appoint a referee delegate for the aforementioned tournaments. Moreover, UWW and ICSD will collaborate in organizing clinics and seminars for coaches, trainers, and referees during ICSD competitions.

The two organizations will place special importance will be placed to improving the quality of the practice of wrestling and establishing a referee training policy for deaf environments.

According to the signed MoU, ICSD competitions will be integrated into the UWW international calendar, UWW will establish the program of the competitions and grant, upon adherence to the regulations in force, a UWW permit for the Summer
Deaflympics and all deaf championships.

In an effort to integrate, all wrestlers participating in ICSD competitions will be encouraged to have a valid UWW license for the current year, which will also provide insurance in case of an accident. If a wrestler does not have a UWW license, it is the respective ICSD Member Nation's responsibility to get the insurance of the wrestler, as UWW will not bear any kind of responsibility whatsoever in case of an accident.

All ICSD Member Nations will be made aware of the convention by ICSD while UWW commits itself to implement the necessary means towards the promotion of wrestling in Deaf Sports structures through its national federations.