ASICS Re-signs Rulon Gardner
Contact:
Heather Spears
ASICS Marketing
Communications
(800) 333-8404
Public Relations
Irvine, CA (January 4, 2006) - ASICS re-signs wrestling Olympian, Rulon Gardner as an ASICS ambassador to the wrestling community. Gardner wowed audiences around the world when he beat the World and Olympic champion, Alexander Karelin at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, taking home the gold medal. After the Olympics, Gardner suffered some frustrating obstacles including a snowmobiling accident, a motorcycle accident and several bodily injuries. Throughout these ordeals, Gardner kept pushing to make the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Always achieving his goals, Gardner made the US Olympic team in 2004. A highly emotional moment came during the Olympics right after Gardner beat Sajad Barzi of Iran to win the bronze medal; he publicly retired from his prestigious wrestling career by leaving his ASICS wrestling shoes alone on the mat symbolizing his retirement. Since then, Gardner has been traveling around the United States giving motivational speeches to audiences young and old, wrestlers and non-wrestlers.
In mid-2005, ASICS paid homage to Gardner with the introduction of the “Rulon” wrestling shoe. This specially designed wrestling shoe has been the top seller among the higher price point wrestling shoes in the ASICS line (retail $110.00).
Gardner’s role as an ASICS ambassador will be as a principle member of the ASICS Wrestling Advisory board along with wrestling superstar Cael Sanderson and the ultimate legends Dan Gable, Bruce Baumgartner and Bobby Douglas.
ASICS offers a full line of performance-driven athletic shoes, technical active sports apparel and accessories. ASICS’ vast wrestling product line includes footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, please visit http://www.asicsamerica.com/sports/wrestling.
