Everyone Thought

EVERYONE THOUGHT Alexander Karelin of Russia would crush his competition in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2000 Olympic Games. But American Rulon Gardner discovered a way to dethrone the champion.

The Russian wrestler hadn’t lost a match in 13 years, capturing three Olympic gold medals in the super heavyweight class during that time. No wrestler had even managed to score a point against Karelin for ten years.

But Gardner, a former University of Nebraska wrestler, devised an unusual strategy. Rather than allowing Karelin to use his strength and throwing skills, the 29-year-old stayed chest-to-chest and shoulder-to-shoulder with him so that his opponent couldn’t gain leverage.

Following a scoreless three-minute period, the wrestlers switched to a clinch. In this position, the pair must remain locked until one executes a scoring move or releases his lock. As the two powered to the edge of the mat, Gardner maintained his grip, but Karelin broke his hands slightly. Judges needed 90 seconds of replay for confirmation, but the video clearly showed the break, and the American went up 1–0.

Neither wrestler scored another point. As the nine-minute match neared its conclusion, the 33-year-old Karelin looked visibly tired because he had already wrestled twice that day. Gardner had only competed once. With eight seconds remaining, the defending Olympic champion conceded the match and walked away, giving Gardner the gold.

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POINT Rulon Gardner traveled a long way from his childhood state of Wyoming to the top of the medal stand in Australia. Physically, he had changed too. Gardner walked on to the University of Nebraska football team but quit to concentrate on his favorite sport, wrestling. Before the Olympics, he had managed only a fifth in world competition.

But Gardner’s greatest change came in respect. As a child, he had been cruelly called “Fatso” by many of his classmates. But Gardner didn’t have to wrestle with the unflattering comments and taunts anymore. He wore a gold medal.

Words do hurt. Enemies damage as much through words as by actions. Jesus’ half brother wrote about the dangers of the tongue in the New Testament.

GOAL! Think about words that have hurt you. Consider words you’ve used to hurt others. God wants your speech to honor him.