Northwestern University Athletics
Rulon Gardner Quotes
12/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
On winning the Gold at the Sydney Olympics ...
"It still blows me away when I think about it. The win by myself and the team has given the sport of wrestling much more attention and respect. I knew had a shot at winning, even if it was just a 0.001 shot. Everything happens for a reason."
On winning Gold at The World Championships earlier this month ...
"I had the toughest draw in the heavyweight division, but I believe that once you step on the mat it is just you against your opponent and nothing else matters."
On retiring ...
"Everyone was telling me after I won at Sydney that I should go out on top, but I knew I wasn't done yet. I still had something left to prove. I didn't want to go out with people thinking that my gold medal was just a fluke. I have three more years left in me. After the 2004 games I will stop competing, but that doesn't mean that I will stop being involved with wrestling. I want to walk away still able to enjoy the rest of my life."
On The Midlands Championships ...
"The Midlands competition is one of the best in the country. Not only do the top collegiate wrestlers come, but also many others who have had success in college and at a higher level. Winning the Midlands title in 1995 was one of the most fulfilling moments in my wrestling career. It is one of the few brackets that I have kept. I may just have to come back to the Midlands to compete one more time before I finish my career."
On being honored as an Honorary Champion at this year's Midlands ...
"It is an honor to have people in the sport think of me this way. To be put in the same category as Dan Gable is very humbling."
