712 Digital Group - top

Rulon Gardner Ends Comeback Bid

Sports

April 20th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Forty-year-old heavyweight Rulon Gardner has ended his comeback bid a day before the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Gardner didn’t show up to weigh in on Friday, ending his quest. USA Wrestling did not disclose details or a reason. Gardner won the gold medal in Sydney in 2000 and bronze in Athens eight years ago. He added nearly 200 pounds after retiring from wrestling. But a stint on the NBC reality show “‘The Biggest Loser” convinced him to give wrestling one final shot. Gardner told the AP two weeks ago that he was roughly 25 pounds heavier than the 264.5 pound-limit for his weight class. Gardner acknowledged then that it might be difficult to make weight by Friday.