Here are the full results from Olympics freestyle wrestling in the women’s 48 kg, 58 kg, and 69 kg competitions for Wednesday, August 17.
The Rio Olympics have been a great showcase for wrestling so far, but with women’s wrestling on tap for the next two days, the athletes had a chance to prove that they were just as skilled as their male counterparts. Not only was that the case, but the number of dramatic finishes made this the best day of wrestling at the Olympics thus far.
The 48 kg competition was eventful, to say the least. Haley Augello, America’s only medal hopeful, made it to the quarterfinals, and looked to be in control against Japan’s Eri Tosaka. However, Tosaka turned a 2-1 deficit into an 11-2 win in the span of one period.
Sun Yanan of China made it to the semifinals by beating Vinesh Vinesh, but it was in a highly unsettling fashion. Yanan secured a single-leg takedown, but as Vinesh went to the mat, she suffered a brutal knee injury. The match was stopped, a stretcher came out, and Yanan advanced. But all that did was serve as a reminder of how dangerous this sport can be, and the sacrifices that these athletes make sometimes.
Tosaka would beat Yanan in the semifinal to pull Haley back into the tournament through the repechage round. However, a loss to Zhuldyz Eshimova dashed any medal hopes for the Americans.
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Tosaka and Mariya Stadnik would face off in the Gold medal match, which was a rematch of the 2015 World Wrestling Championships. Stadnik led for most of the match, but with a one-point advantage, Tosaka snatched victory in extremely dramatic fashion. With just three seconds left, she went from being on her back to scoring a two-point takedown to turn a 2-1 loss into a 3-2 win. It was a highly gripping match, but you can’t help but feel bad for Stadnik.
The bronze medals went the way of Sun Yanan, who won by great superiority, and Elitsa Yankova, who went from a 7-2 lead to a narrow 7-6 win.
MEDAL RESULT | Women's Freestyle 48 kg
Reigning World Champion Kaori Icho absolutely blazed a path to the Gold medal match, winning two of her bouts by great superiority. Icho is a legend of the sport already, having won Gold since the inception of women’s wrestling at the Olympics, but a fourth one in Rio would’ve put her over the top.
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Just like her compatriot, Kaori Icho was trailing in the final minute, but mounted the pressure on her opponent. It wasn’t until the final five seconds that she turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 win. Icho has not only cemented herself as the greatest female wrestler of all-time, but one of the greatest Olympians ever. With that win, Icho becomes the first female competitor to win an individual Gold medal in four consecutive Olympics.
In the bronze medal matches, Marwa Amri got a four-point takedown in the last 10 seconds to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 6-3 win. Sakshi Malik also turned a 5-0 deficit after the first period into an 8-5 win after scoring two points before the final buzzer.
MEDAL RESULT | Women's Freestyle 58 kg
Even after Icho’s comeback win, there were still medal matches to be contested in the 69 kg class. Sara Dosho had a chance to put a cap on Japan’s day by winning a third Gold medal. She would end up getting it by scoring two points in the second period and securing the criteria win. The bronze medals were awarded to Elmira Syzdykova and Jenny Fransson.
MEDAL RESULT | Women's Freestyle 69 kg
In just one day, Japan went from one wrestling medal to the most number of Golds. And even though wrestling isn’t one of the more popular sports at the Games, Icho’s accomplishments deserve wide praise. By the end of her career, she will go down as one of the greatest Olympians of all-time.