NEVER STOP PUSHING by Rulon Gardner

In my opinion NEVER STOP PUSHING by Rulon Gardner and Bob Schaller is a good read because of the message it sends. It tells the story of a man who has pushed through so much to get where he is at right now. If you are looking for a book to inspire you or just like reading sports novels I believe you would be interested in NEVER STOP PUSHING.

The setting of the story is the life of an Olympic wrestler named Rulon Gardner. He was born in Wyoming and was one of nine kids. He grew up on a farm where the work was though but taught him valuable life lessons. The story follows him through his school years where he struggled with a learning disability that made school hard but because of the hard work he had experienced on the farm, he was able to push through and graduate from the University of Nebraska. The book also goes onto his career with Greco-Roman wrestling in the Olympics. In the summer of 2000 at the Sydney Olympics in Australia, he faced one of the best wrestlers of all-time, Alexander Karelin. The Russian was already a three time gold medalists, going for his fourth, and nine world championships. Gardner was facing Goliath. And just like David, Gardner beat Goliath. In an amazing match that went into overtime with the final score being one to nothing. Gardner got up and cut a cartwheel and a forward roll even after wrestling for as long as he did. At the podium, where the top three finalists are handed their medals, Rulon stood on the highest one. In fact, FILA, the wrestling governing body, was so sure Karelin would win they had the Russian secretary and president there to hand Karelin his medal. “I had gone from thinking I had a chance to actually thinking I’d win. If that happened, everyone but Secretary Kissinger and President Samaranch would join me in orbit.” So Gardner received his medal from the Russian president.

Coming off the victory in 2000 Gardner felt unstoppable and was a favorite for the title at the 2004 Olympics in Athens but just months before the games something awful happens. Gardner gets wrecked while on a mountain riding his snow mobile. Covered in feet of snow he is stuck and survival looks slim. However he manages to hang on, though he loses several of his toes. Despite the injury, he goes on to get third. Then in an emotional act, he untied his shoes on the mat and left them there as a sign of his retirement from the sport.

Gardner’s story is an inspiring one. He conquers all odds to succeed when everyone said he would fail. I like NEVER STOP PUSHING because it is a success story and can send a message to anyone, even if you are not an athlete. I picked it up because I wrestle and I can relate to what he faced but even if you know nothing about wrestling it will make you realize what your potential is if you just push yourself.