By KEILA SZPALLER
Tribune Staff Writer
Wyoming farm boy turned Olympic wrestler Rulon Gardner will be in Great Falls next month giving a talk for the Montana Farmers Union’s 90th annual convention.
“Because it’s our 90th, we really wanted to make it special, “said Executive Director Tracy Houck.
A MFU board member suggested bringing Rulon to the convention after listening to him give a rousing motivational talk.
Houck remembered watching Rulon beat the previously undefeated Russian wrestler Alexander Karelin for the gold medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 in what is called one of the greatest upsets in wrestling history.
“They call it the miracle on the mat and that’s exactly what it was, “she said. “He went out on the mat and dominated from the minute he was there.”
When she found out he had a farm background to boot, she thought he would be a perfect fit for the farmers union ” “Wow, hey, he’s our guy.”
The convention is one of the many ways Farmers Union reaches out to youth, and the athlete can relate to some. When he was young, he read slowly and had a hard time completing his homework, Houck said.
“He kind of struggled with it all, and yet he is one of our American heroes, “she said.
This year, Farmers Union worked with more than 1,000 kids in camps and other activities.
Houck believes Rulon’s message and title of his book, “Never Stop Pushing, “will resonate with the kids.
C.M. Russell High head wrestling coach does, too. Joel Auers watched Rulon’s career lose ground, and then he watched the tenacious competitor fight back.
“It’s just a good example for me to tell the kids. Things do happen in your life that don’t always go your way, “he said.
After winning the bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Rulon signaled his retirement from wrestling by leaving his shoes on the mat.
His autobiography will be available at the convention.
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