Often contestants that achieve their weight loss goals on “The Biggest Loser” acquire a certain level of fame based on these accomplishments. However one contestant, Rulon Gardner, was the one “Biggest Loser” competitor that was already well-known prior to his appearance on the show. He was also the only one to quit. What has Rulon been up to lately?
Rulon Gardner grew up in in Afton, Wyoming, as the youngest of ten children. He has indicated that he developed physical strength through the laborious work he did on his family’s dairy farm. This certainly came in handy as he moved forward in his career as a Greco-Roman wrestler. Even if you don’t follow Greco-Roman wrestling, you may likely still recall when Rulon won the gold medal in the 2000 Olympic Games. His competitor, Russian Aleksandr Karelin, had gone undefeated for the previous 13 years in international competition. Rulon’s triumph over Karelin in the Olympics was the top feel-good news story for days.
After the Olympics, Rulon did not maintain his physical health and gained a whopping 210 pounds, making him an excellent candidate for “The Biggest Loser” with a starting weight of 474 pounds. Not only was he well known, but one would imagine that someone who has the fortitude to win an Olympic gold medal would be able to achieve great things on “The Biggest Lose,r” as well.
Rulon Gardner took to the training and “Biggest Loser” regimen well. Over the course of 17 weeks on the show Rulon, lost 188 pounds, bringing him very close to his Olympic wrestling weight. However things took a turn for Rulon when cameras caught him sneaking food into his room. He was confronted by trainers and shortly after shocked everyone by abruptly quitting the show for what he claimed to be “personal reasons.”
Given Rulon’s sudden departure from “The Biggest Loser,” fans were understandably anticipating his appearance on the season finale, when all contestants return for a final weigh-in to determine the winner of the at-home prize money. However Rulon was a no-show at the finale, and fans were left wondering, what happened to Rulon?
The obvious assumption, given his inability to abstain from sneaking in fattening treats, and his decision not to appear on the finale, would be that Rulon had fallen off the weight loss wagon. It is likely that many fans put these clues together and came to conclusion that Rulon’s weight was again on the rise. However recent reports indicate that this is not the case.
According to ESPN, a “slimmed-down” Rulon Gardner is making a bid to return to the Olympics this summer! Rulon has been working out at the Olympic training facility and plans to mount an attempt at a comeback and make the Olympic team. The Olympics are still six months away, but the trials to make the wrestling team are April 21 and 22.
Despite falling short of the grand prize on “The Biggest Loser,” it seems that Rulon Gardner has indeed turned his life around. Though fans may have been disappointed and a bit miffed by his sudden departure from the show, it is good news to discover he is doing well. It would be difficult not to root for Rulon to make the team and have continued success in the Olympics. Go Rulon!
Sources:
Rulon Gardner Contestant Biography, nbc.com
Jim Caple, “Olympic Spotlight: Trials Season heats up,” Olympic blog, espn.com