SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Mementos from the career of Olympic hero Rulon Gardner, including a USA Wrestling robe and a commemorative ring, will be auctioned off Saturday in Salt Lake City.
Among the items are dozens of medals the Greco-Roman wrestler won during his career, countless knives and watches and autographed jerseys from fellow sports stars such as Karl Malone and John Elway – whom he hobnobbed with after shocking the world and defeating Russian Alexander Karelin for gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
The auction of some of Gardner’s most treasured items will seek to pay off debt in a $3.9 million bankruptcy case.
Gardner, 43, said the bankruptcy has been difficult to go through but it has he made him a wiser, better man. He and his wife live in Wyoming now, where Gardner works as a medical device sales rep.
“Before the Olympics in 2000, I didn’t have any stuff,” Gardner said. “Some of that stuff is really cool to have, but, at the end of the day, I have a great wife, and I have a chance to start my life over.”