Never Stop Pushing: My Life from a Wyoming Farm to the Olympic Medals Stand

by Rulon Gardner, Bob Schaller (Primary Contributor)

Never Stop Pushing is a motivational autobiography by Olympic Greco-Roman champion wrestler Rulon Gardner (Gold Medal, 2000; Bronze Medal, 2004). This inspiring memoir comes from one of the world's most remarkable athletes who achieved arguably the greatest upset in individual sports history when he defeated the Russian Alexander Karelin -- three-time Olympic champ, undefeated and unscored upon for a decade before his match with Gardner -- in the 2000 Gold Medal match. Rulon Gardner tells the story of his impoverished upbringing as one of nine children in a close-knit Mormon family on a farm in Wyoming, where in performing unceasing chores he developed tremendous strength at an early age. Gardner writes about his struggles in school made arduous by learning disabilities that have challenged him his whole life. Also, after winning his Gold Medal, we read how this champion survived a snowmobile accident that marooned him outdoors for eighteen hours in high country. Rulon Gardner recovered from this and went on to defend his Gold Medal at Athens in 2004 -- yet another comeback from this athlete who was supposed to simply fade away.

Genres: Sports

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 9, 2005

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is autobiography tells the story of Rulon Garners road to glory. With his many tough adventures along the way. The purpose of this book is simply to tell people about his life and show that as long as you give everything you got into something you want and even if everybody tells you its impossible you must never stop pushing. Throughout the book he was always descriptive of what he saw as it happened. Most of the time it gave a very clear picture of the situation and made the reader feel like they were there with him. However, there were several different grammar errors in the book that should of been spotted. Also he would talk about an event then later in the book come back to it and tell about it again so it got boring. Overall I would recommend this book to all wrestles or athletes that want to know the journey of a Olympic gold medalist. Even though it might get long at times it is worth reading and learning what it takes to become a winner and how there are going to be bumps in the road but you have to never stop pushing.

[Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading the book "Never Stop Pushing" by Rulon Gardner because I could connect my life to it. As I read through the challenges he faced I learned to "never stop pushing", even when all I wanted to do was give up. Rulan's brother pushed him to try harder and pushed him more in wrestling just like my brother did for me. I never would be where I am today in this sport if it wasn't for my brother. The motivation gained from these experiences throughout my high school life came from my brother, pushing me to do my best. Rulon took it one step farther by earning himself a gold medal in the olympics. I some day want to achieve my goals and accomplish my dreams just like Rulon did for himself.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book was very good. I read this to share with my students this year. I think some of them are going to like it. Rulon's story is so incredible, and anyone can learn something from it. I liked how he pulled in different people's perspectives to share another angle to his story.

[Matt F · Rating 4 out of 5]

This autobiography captures the struggles in life through the eyes of an Olympian. Rulon Gardner explains the difficulty he had on his way to an Olympic gold medal and years to come after. He describes his amazing journey through the wilderness in Wyoming in his near death experience. Rulon wants every single person who reads this book to realize that they should never give up on themselves and keep pushing through the tough parts in life. Rulon wrote in a interesting style by incorporating flashbacks into his book as well as giving great descriptions about his surroundings and what happens around him as well as hit thought processes as the events around him unfold. This book was written to inspire others to be the best that they can in everything they do to achieve their maximum potential. Although there are great lessons to be learned from this book the overall quality of the writing was adequate with many spelling errors and he tends to be repetitive in what he decides to talk about. I would recommend this book to everybody because it has great life lessons that everybody should learn and it shows the amazing journey of an Olympic gold medalist.

[Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This autobiography tells the story about an olympian wrestler named Rulon Gardner. Rulon never got to the top of his career very easily, it took a lot of hard work and determination for him to be as successful as he was. He had a very rough childhood where he was made fun of everyday and bullied for being overweight. He also grew up very poor and had to do heavy duty farm labor. He also had a very tragic accident which caused him to amputate two of his fingers. Then, after going through all of these hardships he was able to win the gold medal at the olympics. It was truly a story book ending and I recommend to anyone who wants to hear a heartfelt story.

[Paul Schoenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing inspirational tale. It is about a misunderstood farm boy who faces many conflicts in his life in terms of his physical shape and social attributes. He overcomes the odds and he becomes a wrestler and stands up to the people who have given him trouble. This motivating wrestler ends up becoming an olympic gold medalist who defeated the wrestler who was undefeated. If you want to read a book about a person who truly is a hero to everyone then this is a book for you.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amazing biogaphy of a man who grew up on a farm in Wyoming. While riding a snowmobile in the Rocky Mountains, he got lost and survived two nights, suffering frostbite on his feet. Rulon almost had to amputate his toes. He still went on to be an Olympic Gold medalist in the 2000 Olympics. Four years afterwards, he competed in the 2004 Olympics, where he got a bronze medal, losing to Russia's Alexander Karelin. He then retired and now gives motivational speeches all across America.

[David Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool bio of a warm and insightful athlete. Pretty good story about what happens to some people when they marry a faithful nuts-and-bolts approach to a virtuous life with a similar approach to scholastic athleticism. .

The guy leads like an ox. Reading his book was like sitting on his cart watching the world go by.

[Austin Shibilski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is great even if you don't like wrestling this is a good book. The begin is a little boring but it gets better as it goes on. if you have ever wrestled this book is especially good for you. he talks about his experience of going to the Olympics. this a good book for everyone.

[Fletcher Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book basically tells the story of Rulons life. How he grew up a Wyoming farmboy and eventually Olympic champion, Then disaster survivor and a bronze medalist. I really really enjoyed this book! the only downfall is it is awfully long!

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing story. Everyone should read this!

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting story about Rulon Gardner. I've wondered if anyone really proofed this book? Rulon (or the publisher) should ask for a refund because there were so many typo's.

[Michael]

It has been okay so far, but I haven't really got past the scene being set up so i believe it will get better.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very very interesting. I am a wrestling fan and never knew all of this about Rulon makes this story even greater when you know the real story.

[William]

This book taught me to learn from you loses. Overcome adversity and use as motivation. Haters are motivators. Nothing is to hard to achieve. A practical way to achieve your goals 1. Go back to basic, 2. Turn a negative into a positive, enlist of other people, go out and train hard, take care of business, aim high when feeling low, don't rest on your laurels.