--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started out on 'The Biggest…" description: "\"When I started out on 'The Biggest Loser,' for me it was kind of embarrassing to be on national TV and go from this wrestling icon, this Olympic gold m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/rulon-gardner-17625_biggest-loser_when-i-started-out-on-the-biggest-loser_2508806.jpg" --- # When I started out on 'The Biggest Loser,' for me it was… ![“When I started out on 'The Biggest Loser,' for me it was kind of embarrassing to be on national TV and go from this wrestling icon, this Olympic gold medalist, to being on 'The Biggest Loser.'” quote by Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/rulon-gardner-17625_biggest-loser_when-i-started-out-on-the-biggest-loser_2508806.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/rulon-gardner-17625_biggest-loser_when-i-started-out-on-the-biggest-loser_2508806.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/rulon-gardner-17625_biggest-loser_when-i-started-out-on-the-biggest-loser_2508806.jpg) > “When I started out on 'The Biggest Loser,' for me it was kind of embarrassing to be on national TV and go from this wrestling icon, this Olympic gold medalist, to being on 'The Biggest Loser.'” [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Transitioning from elite athlete to reality TV contestant felt humiliating due to public exposure and role change. **In simple terms:** Famous athletes may feel embarrassed on TV. Key Takeaway Embrace new challenges despite discomfort. Themes celebrity vulnerability identity media Mood introspective motivational Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - career shift - personal branding - media training - mental resilience Key Concepts selfimage public perception Questions to Reflect On - What fears arise when changing public roles? - How can one reframe embarrassment as growth? A Different Perspective Public scrutiny can amplify embarrassment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biggest loser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-loser/) [Embarrassing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassing/) [Embarrassing National](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassing-national-1135592/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Gold medal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold-medal/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Loser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loser/) [Medalist Biggest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medalist-biggest-1135593/) [Olympic gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympic-gold/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [For me, back in Sydney, it was just being there and going out and beating Alexander Karelin, 13-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/for-me-back-in-sydney-it-was-just-being-there-and-going-out-and/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [I'm trying to make better choices, and for me, this is kind of a rebirth. If I make the Olympic team? Great. If not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/i-m-trying-to-make-better-choices-and-for-me-this-is-kind-of-a/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [Being on 'The Biggest Loser,' that's where my fire turned back on. It was time to go out there and take care of business.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/being-on-the-biggest-loser-that-s-where-my-fire-turned-back-on-it-was/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > ['The Biggest Loser' was only a steppingstone to my comeback, to my ultimate success. It was a vehicle to give me my life back.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/the-biggest-loser-was-only-a-steppingstone-to-my-comeback-to-my/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [Even when on 'The Biggest Loser', I was out doing back handsprings on the show, throwing dummies on the mat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/even-when-on-the-biggest-loser-i-was-out-doing-back-handsprings-on/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [America's seen me go from Olympic glory to 'Biggest Loser'. I want to go back to Olympic glory again. It's kind of the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/america-s-seen-me-go-from-olympic-glory-to-biggest-loser-i-want-to-go/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [Ultimately, I didn't look at 'The Biggest Loser' as being my defining moment. I wasn't there to compete and win the money. I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/ultimately-i-didn-t-look-at-the-biggest-loser-as-being-my-defining/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [The favorite to win the Olympic gold medal in archery is a legally blind athlete from South Korea, mainly because everyone else is too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/the-favorite-to-win-the-olympic-gold-medal-in-archery-is-a-legally/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [You do not boo an Olympic Gold Medalist. I'm the best in the world. I came here for you. You dont' boo me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-angle/you-do-not-boo-an-olympic-gold-medalist-i-m-the-best-in-the-world-i/) [Kurt Angle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-angle/) > [From the time I started boxing, my dream was to win an Olympic gold medal. At 10, I can't say I knew how big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-garcia/from-the-time-i-started-boxing-my-dream-was-to-win-an-olympic-gold/) [Danny Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-garcia/) > [Here were these college kids beating the Soviets and going on to the Olympic Gold Medal. To me, that's the greatest upset of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mckay/here-were-these-college-kids-beating-the-soviets-and-going-on-to-the/) [Jim McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mckay/) > [Going to the Olympics as a Maasai I want to make them proud because, after the warm welcome they gave me when I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rudisha/going-to-the-olympics-as-a-maasai-i-want-to-make-them-proud-because/) [David Rudisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rudisha/) > [If I would have won that Olympic gold medal, I would have gotten a job somewhere coaching at a university, and I would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-cormier/if-i-would-have-won-that-olympic-gold-medal-i-would-have-gotten-a-job/) [Daniel Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-cormier/) > [“If you bake a cupcake, the world has one more cupcake. If you become a circus clown, the world has one more squirt of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-e-landsburg/if-you-bake-a-cupcake-the-world-has-one-more-cupcake-if-you-become-a/) [Steven E. Landsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-e-landsburg/) > [You don't do a play to compete for an award. This was the argument I always had over the Oscars. I didn't win them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-jackson/you-don-t-do-a-play-to-compete-for-an-award-this-was-the-argument-i/) [Glenda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-jackson/) ## More by Rulon Gardner > [You just try to make the best decisions you can. You just take life as it comes to you and do your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/you-just-try-to-make-the-best-decisions-you-can-you-just-take-life-as/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [I'm a wrestler with nine toes. I'm a wrestler who has been through a lot of battles. I get to do a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/i-m-a-wrestler-with-nine-toes-i-m-a-wrestler-who-has-been-through-a/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [People say, 'You're overweight'; they question your heart and character. It's a challenge again, proving to myself and to other people that I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/people-say-you-re-overweight-they-question-your-heart-and-character/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [Even when on 'The Biggest Loser', I was out doing back handsprings on the show, throwing dummies on the mat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/even-when-on-the-biggest-loser-i-was-out-doing-back-handsprings-on/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [I can freestyle for a while, but I'm not an Olympic swimmer who can go two or three miles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/i-can-freestyle-for-a-while-but-i-m-not-an-olympic-swimmer-who-can-go/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [Ultimately, I didn't look at 'The Biggest Loser' as being my defining moment. I wasn't there to compete and win the money. I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/ultimately-i-didn-t-look-at-the-biggest-loser-as-being-my-defining/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [I look at what I have as compared to what I don't have. I have this, I have this, I have this. Thank God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/i-look-at-what-i-have-as-compared-to-what-i-don-t-have-i-have-this-i/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [I don't have all this money people think Olympic athletes have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/i-don-t-have-all-this-money-people-think-olympic-athletes-have/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [People consider me a hero, but I turn around and look at the military people overseas. They're the freaking heroes. They're the ones putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/people-consider-me-a-hero-but-i-turn-around-and-look-at-the-military/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [I grew up on a farm and I always learned when you work you go forward, you don't stop and say, well, I'll take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/i-grew-up-on-a-farm-and-i-always-learned-when-you-work-you-go-forward/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [There's no comparison to competition. You can't tell yourself truly where you're at unless you compete in competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/there-s-no-comparison-to-competition-you-can-t-tell-yourself-truly/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [That's why I kept wrestling - I'm too dumb to realize I can't win, so I keep wrestling until I ultimately succeed. I'm pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/that-s-why-i-kept-wrestling-i-m-too-dumb-to-realize-i-can-t-win-so-i/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [People in my life have either supported me or doubted me. The only people I hear are the doubters. So, for me, I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/people-in-my-life-have-either-supported-me-or-doubted-me-the-only/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [America's seen me go from Olympic glory to 'Biggest Loser'. I want to go back to Olympic glory again. It's kind of the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/america-s-seen-me-go-from-olympic-glory-to-biggest-loser-i-want-to-go/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [Wrestling pushes me, makes me accountable. It makes me who I am. I never felt I was just a normal person. Then I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/wrestling-pushes-me-makes-me-accountable-it-makes-me-who-i-am-i-never/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) [Explore all 36 Rulon Gardner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) ## More Biggest loser quotes > [Nothing would make me happier than to train the next winner on 'The Biggest Loser' because it means the world to me. Everybody has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-castronuova/nothing-would-make-me-happier-than-to-train-the-next-winner-on-the/) [Cara Castronuova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-castronuova/) > [Even when on 'The Biggest Loser', I was out doing back handsprings on the show, throwing dummies on the mat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/even-when-on-the-biggest-loser-i-was-out-doing-back-handsprings-on/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [Ultimately, I didn't look at 'The Biggest Loser' as being my defining moment. I wasn't there to compete and win the money. I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/ultimately-i-didn-t-look-at-the-biggest-loser-as-being-my-defining/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [Your the biggest loser I have ever known!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-star/your-the-biggest-loser-i-have-ever-known/) [Ashley\_star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-star/) > [My cholesterol went from 220 to 149. I was crying like a 'Biggest Loser' contestant when my doctor gave me the news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-jaret-winokur/my-cholesterol-went-from-220-to-149-i-was-crying-like-a-biggest-loser/) [Marissa Jaret Winokur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-jaret-winokur/) > [I would love to go on 'The Biggest Loser,' where it's a concentrated thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-metz/i-would-love-to-go-on-the-biggest-loser-where-it-s-a-concentrated/) [Chrissy Metz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-metz/) > [I was recently asked about the business side of 'Biggest Loser,' but as long as we entertain people, we can keep coming back and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sweeney/i-was-recently-asked-about-the-business-side-of-biggest-loser-but-as/) [Alison Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sweeney/) > [A person who creates hatred in the hearts of people living day & night with him because of his ill behaviour, is the biggest loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/a-person-who-creates-hatred-in-the-hearts-of-people-living-day-night/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [“But on a Sunday morning when I want to grab an omelet over girl talk, I’m at a loss. My Chicago friends are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-bertsche/but-on-a-sunday-morning-when-i-want-to-grab-an-omelet-over-girl-talk/) [Rachel Bertsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-bertsche/) > [America's seen me go from Olympic glory to 'Biggest Loser'. I want to go back to Olympic glory again. It's kind of the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/america-s-seen-me-go-from-olympic-glory-to-biggest-loser-i-want-to-go/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [The biggest losers are those who care only about winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-armstrong/the-biggest-losers-are-those-who-care-only-about-winning/) [Lance Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-armstrong/) > [It's one of the fundamental principles of the stock market: When interest rates go up, stocks go down. And along with financial companies and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/it-s-one-of-the-fundamental-principles-of-the-stock-market-when/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [“False hope is better than believing you're the world's biggest loser.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-ralston/false-hope-is-better-than-believing-you-re-the-world-s-biggest-loser/) [Duncan Ralston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-ralston/) > [At the end of the day, your health is your responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-michaels/at-the-end-of-the-day-your-health-is-your-responsibility/) [Jillian Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-michaels/) > ['The Biggest Loser' was only a steppingstone to my comeback, to my ultimate success. It was a vehicle to give me my life back.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/the-biggest-loser-was-only-a-steppingstone-to-my-comeback-to-my/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) [Browse all 44 Biggest loser quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-loser/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I started out on 'The Biggest Loser,' for me it was kind of embarrassing to be on national TV and go from this wrestling icon, this Olympic gold medalist, to being on 'The Biggest Loser.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rulon Gardner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/when-i-started-out-on-the-biggest-loser-for-me-it-was-kind-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Biggest loser" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/when-i-started-out-on-the-biggest-loser-for-me-it-was-kind-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/rulon-gardner-17625_biggest-loser_when-i-started-out-on-the-biggest-loser_2508806.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/rulon-gardner-17625_biggest-loser_when-i-started-out-on-the-biggest-loser_2508806.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/rulon-gardner-17625_biggest-loser_when-i-started-out-on-the-biggest-loser_2508806.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I started out on 'The Biggest Loser,' for me it was kind of embarrassing to be on national TV and go…” — Rulon Gardner", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rulon Gardner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I started out on 'The...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/when-i-started-out-on-the-biggest-loser-for-me-it-was-kind-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/when-i-started-out-on-the-biggest-loser-for-me-it-was-kind-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```