Rulon Gardner: Not dead

[Idaho]

But almost was

http://origin.sltrib.com/ci_5304286

Three Utah men, including an Olympic gold medalist and an American Fork business owner, battled the elements overnight after their plane crashed into Lake Powell Saturday.
Rulon Garnder, a two-time Olympic champion and three-time national champion in Greco-Roman wrestling, was a passenger in the Cirrus SR 22 small aircraft that plunged into the lake's frigid waters Saturday afternoon, police said.
Gardner, along with the pilot Randy Brooks and his brother Leslie Brooks, swam in the 44 degree water for more than an hour to the shore at Good Hope Bay near the Garfield and San Juan county border, according to the Garfield County Sheriff's Office.

 

[slappy4428]

He is one tough SOB...

 

[Flying Headbutt]

NOTHING can kill him.

 

[ServeItUp]

I hope someone caught the error in the second graf. He won two Olympic medals (Gold in 2000, bronze in 2004), not two Olympic championships. Nonetheless, he is indeed a tough dude. They make 'em tough out Afton way.

 

[JayFarrar]

Isn't he the one who lost some fingers to frostbite and then went out and won at one of the world championships?

 

[Flying Headbutt]

Thought it was toes.

 

[Idaho]

Yes, it was toes. His snowmobile broke down in the middle of nowhere and he had to hike out overnight.

And I've noticed the SL Tribune has an abundance of typos, errors and other crap in its online updates.

 

[MU_was_not_so_hard]

Note to self: Never pick fight with Rulon Gardner. Ever.

 

[Idaho]

My mother and his mother used to work together. Nicest family I can imagine. He's gone through a lot before and after winning in Sydney.

http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660194227,00.html

Here's a cool article on him.

/not the author

 

[novelist_wannabe]

Dude's playing the terminated in the next Terminator movie ...

 

[Armchair_QB]

Note to self: Never pick fight with Rulon Gardner. Ever.

Never travel with him either.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

How many toes did he lose this time?

 

[Flying Headbutt]

If we sent him to the middle east by himself even Ann Coulter would be pleased with the results.

 

[Write-brained]

Newsflash:

Write-brained not dead, either. Sitting comfortably and complacently in his home, all warm and toasty.

Will keep you updated.

 

[Cadet]

Wow. Had the fortune to work with him once, a great guy. He needs to keep both feet and whatever toes he has left firmly planted on the ground from here on out.

 

[John]

I heard him on CNN a few hours ago. He almost made crashing into Lake Powell seem like no big deal.

 

[shotglass]

If Rulon Gardner were a coda kitty, he would have used up 8 1/2 of his lives right now.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

Rulon Gardner was the inspiration behind the Princess Bride.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

Note to self: Never pick fight with Rulon Gardner. Ever.

Never travel with him either.

I am ashamed at the things I laugh at . . . but laugh I do.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

Rulon Gardner once punched a hole in a cow just to see what was on the other side.