Paris ¨C Japan¡¯s Nao Kusaka won the gold medal in the men¡¯s 77-kg Greco-Roman wrestling event at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, while Demeu Zhadrayev of Kazakhstan claimed silver.
¡°Since I was told about the design of this medal, I thought that it was so cool and that I¡¯d like to have it so bad,¡± he said.
¡°Now, looking at it in my hand, I¡¯m feeling so happy about this achievement, because it¡¯s mine.¡±
Beer was on Kusaka¡¯s mind when asked about his celebration.
¡°Champagne is not something I¡¯m familiar with. I¡¯m more of a beer guy. So I¡¯d like to enjoy my beer first and then maybe champagne.¡±
Armenia¡¯s Malkhas Amoyan and Kyrgyzstan¡¯s Akzhol Makhmudov took bronze.
In the men¡¯s 97-kg class, Iran¡¯s Mohammad Hadi Saravi won gold, while Artur Aleksanyan of Aremina claimed silver.
Cuba¡¯s Gabriel Rosillo and Uzur Dzhuzupbetook of Kyrgyzstan took bronze.
In women¡¯s freestyle, Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States won the 50-kg gold, beating silver medalist Yusneylys Guzman.
Hildebrandt was originally scheduled to meet Vinesh Phogat in the gold medal match but the Indian was disqualified for being overweight.
Cuba¡¯s Yusneylys Guzman, who lost to Phogat in Tuesday¡¯s semifinals, was promoted instead and Hildebrandt prevailed 3-0 to win the gold after claiming bronze in Tokyo three years ago.
¡°My mind and body are not computing everything, especially with the chaotic morning I had with the change of opponent,¡± Hildebrandt said afterward while nibbling a muffin.
¡°It was very strange, like ¡¯Oh my god, I just won the Olympics¡¯¡± she said of the assumption she had prevailed by forfeit. ¡°So there had to be a reset. I took a nap, woke up, and it was like a fever dream.¡±
Japan¡¯s Yui Susaki and Feng Ziqi of China won bronze.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.