Olympic Hero Homecoming
From a news story by
CNN San Francisco Reporter Rusty Dornin
October 12, 2000
When it comes to getting on the map, the people of Afton, Wyoming know
exactly who put them there. [It was] Rulon Gardner, the small-town wrestler
who toppled an Olympic god.
[This is] "The biggest thing to ever happen to Afton," says
one local.
[Rulon is] a Wyoming farm boy now recognized on the streets of New York
and by the likes of Letterman and Leno. [He is] Afton's very own Hercules
now ready for a triumphant return to a town whose biggest claim to date
is the world's largest antler arch.
Just about every shop and storefront bears the signs of a hero's welcome.
At Noodle's Diner the celebration is the big buzz.
"People here are so excited to see him; and it is so neat at to
have him home. People watched everything," says a diner.
Many here in this town of
fifteen hundred feel they truly share in Gardner's victory.
"It's just like one big family here just waiting for him to come
home".
After all, it was the town that helped raise enough money to send 16
members of his family to the Olympics. Gardner says he's ready to share
his gold with Afton.
Gardner says, "I'll share it with everyone. Hopefully everyone
will want to attain their goals."
Thousands are expected to turn to cheer Gardner, Wyoming's first-ever-gold
medal winner. He will lead his own parade into town, riding a tractor
from his family's farm and then run through the streets with the American
flag.
Homecoming Day 10/12/00
Like a god of Olympus he rode to town on a chariot Wyoming style. For
Rulon Gardner the farm boy from Afton who wrestled the gold medal from
the Russian champion it was a super-hero's welcome, one that nearly
overwhelmed Wyoming's first-ever Olympic gold medal winner.
With his clean cut looks and attitude, many here say Gardner stands
for things uncommon among athletes these days. "America is starving
for this guy!!!" "He's just a real person; he milked cows
growing up. The family worked hard; the whole family worked hard. They
got a college education, and I think he's just a product of America.,"
said one Afton resident.
The townspeople here raised money to help send Gardner and his entire
family to Sydney, something not forgotten by the Olympian.
Rulon Gardner says, "This medal is all of ours because this is
us together, and you helped me get there".
Gardner says he plans on continuing to compete in Greco-Roman wrestling.
His father already has predictions of the next medal.
Even if he never wins another match, he still feels he can make some
invaluable contributions to the sport. Rulon says, "It makes it
more gratifying that I can be out there and be a role model for these
kids. So hopefully they'll be able to see me and say I want to be just
like that: I want to push myself."
Townspeople here say Gardner has brought the tiny town of Afton more
than just 15 minutes of fame.
One local summed it up, "He's brought the whole town together,
and everybody just loves to have him home".
And they went out of their way to show it.
Additional Notes:
© 1999-2000 Cable News Network, Inc.
Western/Pacific Literacy Network
Western/Pacific LINCS
All Rights Reserved
|
