'The Biggest Loser' shocker: Rulon abruptly quits, and it's anyone's game

Whoa! I didn't see that "Biggest Loser" twist coming. Did you? Rulon Gardner just up and quit.

The two-time Olympic medalist who was seen by many as the frontrunner in the bid to become the Season 11 winner of "The Biggest Loser" and take home the $250,000 pay day just abruptly said he was going home and provided very little explanation for his actions. (Maybe he was peeved that Tara beat him in the pulling-a-car challenge?)

This week's weigh-in was just about to begin when host Ali Sweeney noted that Rulon had something to say. He did a light jog up the stairs, took his place on the giant scale and announced: "This is my last time on the scale. I'm asking to leave 'The Biggest Loser' for a personal reason. That's it." He then jogged back down, hugged and kissed the trainers  good-bye and headed out the door.

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Interlude: I'm interviewing Ali and Jillian Michaels at the L.A. Times Festival of Books this weekend. Join us! Do you have any questions for Ali and Jillian? Leave them in the comments section below.

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Rulon later added this much in a camera aside but still left many questions unanswered:

"Tonight it became clear that I needed to go home for personal reasons. There's things that need to be addressed in my life back home. I feel that my personal goals have been reached here on 'The Biggest Loser,' and it's my time to go home. I got my health back, I got my fitness, and I got my life back. That was my real reason for coming to 'The Biggest Loser.' I'm happy. I'm going to go home and see my wife and be the husband that she deserves, and I am going to be a person who is accountable for my actions."

Mmmm. OK. But WHY? Why, when you were so close? (Gardner walked onto the ranch at 474 pounds and lost a stunning 188 pounds at last count, averaging a 15-pound weight loss each week.) I got word from NBC on Wednesday morning that Rulon would not take part in Wednesday's media conference call, where departing players take questions from the media. Until we get some answers, chew on this interview with Rulon, headlined: "Rulon Gardner makes no excuses."

Even Bob was shocked, acknowledging Rulon's front-runner status: "I was so taken aback because Rulon was set up to win this show; this guy was on a roll. Well, that's a 'Biggest Loser' first. Now, it's anybody's game."

Adding to the mystery of Rulon's departure: I interviewed him several times, and he told me that he looked at "The Biggest Loser" as a vindication of sorts, an opportunity to prove to himself and others that he could once again master his body and achieve greatness. But one of the things Rulon was forced to grapple with was that the life of an athlete (and particularly a wrestler) can be one of extremes.

Either they are dieting and working out like fiends to hit their weight target, or they are giving their bodies a break by lying on the couch each day and rewarding themselves doing nothing. All the trainers said that Rulon's key to weight-loss success in the real world would be striking a balance and finding a way to enjoy the occasional cheeseburger with his wife without turning it into a binge.

Do you think Rulon achieved this balance? It seems like just yesterday that Jillian was giving him what for when she found out he was sneaking food into his room. Do you think he can maintain the weight loss? Aren't you disappointed that we didn't get to see him weigh in one last time?

This also serves up a twist for the final four. As Jay put it, this puts everyone one step closer to a coveted spot in the final four. (There are only six players left.) Who do you think it will be? Should they just hand the check to Irene and call it a day?

And possibly the single most important question of all: Does this mean next week is makeover week?

Final thought: I know I gave Kaylee a hard time because she irritated me so much and seemed to be taking it all for granted. Well, Kaylee, I'm sure you're happy to know that I am going to let bygones be bygones. Very happy to see you striking up some romance with Vance since your departure. (How did that happen? Do they live in the same town?) I hope you both find lasting health and happiness. Awwwwwwww.

--Rene Lynch
twitter / renelynch 

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Photo: The final seven, all looking slim and trim, right before Tara beat them all. Credit: NBC

Comments

[Lea]

I really don't blame Rulon for leaving. In fact, I will no longer watch your show, or have anything to do with your products and etc. Tara should not have been able to compete against any of the contestant, because she was already on the show, gone through all her training and won many prizes. I felt that the Biggest Loser cheated Rulon from his self-esteem, his chance of being able to on the box of Wheaties that would have boost his life time goal. The name for biggest loser should now be change to the Biggest Cheaters.

What a big disappointment. I thought the show cared about their contestant, but with Rulon, you destroyed his faith and trust, and mine as well

[rockon]

NOPE! He did not quit. 100% Drama and we are all going to see that next week he will be back.

[carolfyhrie]

I am a loyal watcher of your show the biggest loser and I was so disappointed last night that you guys woulds let Tara win that prize, I could see her inspiring the contestents but not to win the prize, I think you took alot away from Rulon. Not fair. I hope you will do something about this. May Rulon should still get his picture on the wheaties box and also win the money. This is the first season that I have not cared about . Everthing has been so different. I don't think the trip to New Zealand was necessary either give the money to the contestents. they work hard for it.

[Ivan]

I think he got fed up with the drama and the backstabing, good for him to let them know he doesnt need the money nor the publicity.

[becky]

what is up with all the people who are whining about tara winning the challenge? Are you all related to Rulon? Or you are just people who can't win things and so hate on those who can? The show asked Tara to come back for an episode with past contestants. The show asked Tara to compete in the challenge. Tara did not swoop in and steal anything from anyone. She was just doing what the show gave her the opportunity to do. She beat Rulon, fair and square. She was better at the challenge than he was. So, she wins. Lashing out at Tara makes no sense at all. If Rulon wanted to be on the Wheaties box he should have stepped it up and done a better job at the challenge.

[annie]

The real story is that Rulon was caught cheating several times so the production forced him out. Check out the internet - it's all there. Notice he didn't hug any of the contestants on the way out, just the trainers? Don't you think they all knew that he was cheating?

[RC76]

I heard he was disqualified and that the producers just let him make a graceful exit.

[Helen]

It is all over the Internet that Rulon was really disqualified for cheating.

I agree Tara should not have been allowed to compete in the challenge because she is no longer a contestant.

[Lea]

Wow! Perhaps Annie and R C76 are right, then I made a wrong judgement and apologize for my statements. I truly felt that Tara should have been more of an encouragement and support for the contestant rather than competing against them, because she won lots of prizes already and was on the show and etc. I also feel that the producers and the show should focus on the current contestants winning prizes rather than the ones in the past, unless it involves 6 players of each current and past contestants at the same time.

[Patcha]

Due to inclement weather...I was only able to watch about 9 minutes of last nights episode of Biggest Loser. No tornadoes touched down near my home but I evidently missed the fire-storm on this weeks show! Wish that I had seen more, but happy that Kaylee is finished with her passive/aggressive attitude toward her weight-loss journey!!!

[Judy]

I think Rulon left because he got screwed out of $5000 and his picture on a box of Wheaties by someone who was on the show 2 years ago and came back for a competition. That wasn't right, Tara should not have been in the competition. And the show should have given Rulon the money and the Wheaties nod. How unfair. Sucks.

[RON]

IT could be because he got robbed of the money and the wheaties box by a non current contestant. Its like a teacher winning the science fair at the middle school. That and the game playing. you say he cheated yes he did on his eating but he still lost the weight. the man lost the weight period!!!!

[melanie]

Why was Tara even there? Nobody liked her during her original time, nobody likes her now. Way to go NBC, this show is about weight loss. I just hope Rulon doesn't go home and gain the weight back if he wasn't actually ready to leave.

[David Valentine]

Bad news Melanie... People like Tara. She is a competitor.

And my first reaction was he quit because he was beat by a woman at a strength event. not a good thing due to his competitive nature, and personal beliefs.

[Celia Cruz]

He's a owner of a gym and a motivational speaker. Play fair.
Celia Cruz

[Vicki]

Rulon always gave me the impression on the show that he was arrogant and cocky and that was the impression he gave last night when he quit. Some speculated he quit because of the car pulling and he lost to a girl. Too bad. He cheated and was given the opportunity to quit how he wanted to. He lost most of the weight because he was probably taking something. If he thinks he is going back to wrestling and doing what he did before - good luck.

[K.]

Seems like Rulon is just a sore loser. I thought it was a bit unfair for all those girls to be paired with a olympic gold medal winner. He shouldn't have let a girl beat him.

[Addie]

Post show it looks like there are better things to talk about many who never even made it on the ranch have went on to lose weight and not gain in back.

Here is a list of just few:
Erika, http://BlackGirlsGuidetoWeightLoss.com
dropping processed foods, cutting down on sugar, lifting a few weights.

Amanda, 29
http://MyNewLife-Manderz.blogspot.com
Total pounds lost: 107

Jill Knapp http://getupandgetmoving.net
Total loss 100

Hat's off to the people who take it off in the real world!

[Micalle]

Great stories of real people who lost off the ranch. Rulon has shocked so many by leaving it makes no since. Why would he leave?

[Jimmy]

Rulon is on Twitter!!
https://twitter.com/#!/RulonGardner