'Keep your feet on the ground'
'Keep your feet on the ground'
Olympic Gold Medalist speaks at Wallenstein Theater
MOSES LAKE — Rulon Gardner spent 18 hours in the winter weather of Utah before being rescued two years ago.
The Olympic Gold Medalist spent his time on stage Monday night discussing what could have been a fatal experience, his journey to a gold medal and his rehabilitation that brought his bronze medal four years after becoming the world champion.
At the end of the evening an audience member asked about the best advice Gardner had ever received.
His answer was prompt, "My mother told me to 'keep your feet on the ground, remember where you come from, who you are.'"
In 1990, Gardner was in Moses Lake wrestling with the Ricks Junior College wrestling team. It was his first trip to Moses Lake.
Monday was his second visit to Moses Lake and included a drive around the city, a wrestling demonstration with local wrestlers and an evening of discussion and explanation of his seven points to success.
"Jim (Neilson) was driving me around today and I said, 'you know, this looks just like where I grew up,'" Gardner said. He then quipped that Moses Lake had stop lights while his hometown did not.
As Gardner storied his way through his seven steps, referenced in his book, he talked about his experiences and how they motivated him to continue pushing through various tribulations.
Gardner was diagnosed with a learning disability and by the end of high school, he was told his best bet would be to attend a technical college. He chose, instead, to attend Ricks and transferred to the University of Nebraska to pursue a degree in teaching.
After six and a half years at Nebraska, Gardner made the decision to turn wrestling into a career and began training in earnest for the Olympics.
His discussion centered upon the idea of mental and physical preparation for the tasks in one's life and being able to out work an opponent in any situation.
Gardner's 1-0 shutout in overtime of the 2000 Olympics was one of the biggest upsets in the history of wrestling and when Gardner followed it with a World Championship a year later he made more history. Gardner became the first wrestler to win an Olympic Gold Medal and a World Championship in consecutive years.
After winning the bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics, Gardner chose to retire. He now travels, discussing his experiences and urging audiences to reach for what they want.
Gardner's parting shot to those listening to his speech was, "Find people who lift you up."
After the speech concluded, Gardner was on hand to talk to those in attendance, sign his book and give people the opportunity to view his Olympic medals.
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