Rulon Gardner

Rulon Ellis Gardner, from Afton, Wyoming, a wrestler known for defeating Aleksandr Karelin in the 2000 Olympics, was a contestant on the Olympic Edition of the U.S. version of the show on October 22, 2000. Rulon split $125,000 for Generations Foundation.

WWTBAM Run[]

Fastest Finger Question[]

Faster Finger Question
Put these sports movies in order of their first theatrical release, starting with the earliest.
⬥ A: Remember the Titans	⬥ B: The Bad News Bears
⬥ C: Varsity Blues	⬥ D: The Mighty Ducks

The correct answer was B-D-C-A. Out of 10 contestants, Rulon was the only to get it in 12.60 seconds.

Rulon’s Run to the Million[]

$100 (1 of 15) - Not Timed
Which of the following terms is slang for “very tall and thin”?
⬥ A: Baldy	⬥ B: Musclebound
⬥ C: All legs	⬥ D: Munchkin

$200 (2 of 15) - Not Timed
According to a common phrase, a person continuing a conversation or task is “keeping the ball” what?
⬥ A: On offense	⬥ B: Dribbling
⬥ C: Rolling	⬥ D: In a safety deposit box

$300 (3 of 15) - Not Timed
Which of the following people would most likely use a crystal ball at work?
⬥ A: Pro bowler	⬥ B: Fortune-teller
⬥ C: Pharmacist	⬥ D: Wealthy juggler

$500 (4 of 15) - Not Timed
What phrase describes a country or region where dangerous political situations are likely?
⬥ A: Cold war	⬥ B: Fast track
⬥ C: Thin ice	⬥ D: Hot spot

$1,000 (5 of 15) - Not Timed
What is the nickname of the 2000 Olympic gold-medalist swimmer, Ian Thorpe?
⬥ A: Thorpedo	⬥ B: Thorpinator
⬥ C: Mighty Thorpe	⬥ D: Thorpy

$2,000 (6 of 15) - Not Timed
In what U.S. city did the popular “grunge” musical style emerge in the early 1990s?
⬥ A: Cleveland, OH	⬥ B: New York City, NY
⬥ C: Seattle, WA	⬥ D: San Francisco, CA

$4,000 (7 of 15) - Not Timed
Which of the following colors is not found on the interlocking rings on the Olympic flag?
⬥ A: Blue	⬥ B: Black
⬥ C: Green	⬥ D: Orange

$8,000 (8 of 15) - Not Timed
What is the term for the fibrous tissues that connect bone to bone at the joint?
⬥ A: Fats	⬥ B: Ligaments
⬥ C: Nephrons	⬥ D: Muscles

$16,000 (9 of 15) - Not Timed
In the TV special “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” what animal does the Grinch use to pull his sled?
⬥ A: Dog	⬥ B: Cat
⬥ C: Gopher	⬥ D: Mouse

$32,000 (10 of 15) - Not Timed
In which of the following sports would an athlete most likely perform a Tsukahara? “Ask the Audience” lifeline used
⬥ A: Swimming	⬥ B: Gymnastics
⬥ C: Ice skating	⬥ D: Equestrian
Ask the Audience Results: A: 5% ⬥ B: 45% ⬥ C: 29% ⬥ D: 21%

$64,000 (11 of 15) - Not Timed
In the 1960 novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” what is the nickname of Atticus Finch’s daughter? “Phone-a-Friend” lifeline used
⬥ A: Jem	⬥ B: Dill
⬥ C: Scout	⬥ D: Mayella

Rulon decides to call Mark, a dentist. Mark is 100% that is C: Scout, and Rulon trusts him and wins $64,000.

$125,000 (12 of 15) - Not Timed
Which of the following actors does not appear in the 1986 film “Top Gun”? “50:50” lifeline used
⬥ A: Meg Ryan	⬥ B: Tim Robbins
⬥ C: Anthony Edwards	⬥ D: Cary Elwes

$250,000 (13 of 15) - Not Timed
Which of the following nations does not belong to the region known as the “Balkans”?
⬥ A: Hungary	⬥ B: Macedonia
⬥ C: Bulgaria	⬥ D: Albania

Rulon has absolutely no idea, so he’s leaving with $125,000. Rulon would have guessed Macedonia, and he would dropped down to $32,000.

The correct answer was A: Hungary.

Total Prize Money: $125,000

Trivia[]

Gardner is the only contestant from Wyoming to sit in the hot seat on the ABC run of the show.

Preceded by None	U.S. Contestant (Olympic Edition) Rulon Gardner	Succeeded by Laura Wilkinson