American Maroulis Defeats Saori Yoshida in 53kg Wrestling to Win Historic Gold

– Helen Maroulis made a great run in women’s wrestling Thursday, reaching the gold medal match at 53-kg in the Rio Olympics.

“I’ve been dreaming about wrestling Saori for so long”, Maroulis said afterward. “Like, oh my gosh!”

But the 33-year-old met her match against Olympic debutant Maroulis in the women’s 53-kg freestyle final, falling prey to two takedowns to lose the match 3-1 at Carioca Arena 2.

Yoshida had won 13 world championships and the last three Olympic gold medals.

“She loved wrestling always, and she had a good feel for it”, Paula Maroulis said.

At the end of the press conference, she started thinking about her next meal.

“I just knew that all the girls here today worked really hard to get here”.

“I think somebody’s got to get behind it and endorse it”, said Pirozhkova. The American and Japanese women chose to drop weight.

“First of all I was surprised”, the Ishikawa Prefecture native said of Yoshida’s defeat. The United States turned up its defense to make up for not being as crisp offensively after routing opponents by an average of 41.7 points. “For someone to win three gold medals and come back and risk that and accept that challenge to win a fourth-that’s another four years of work, dedication, of giving your life to the sport”. The clocked ticked down.

In addition, MMA and UFC have become platforms for showcasing wrestling, said Clarissa Chun, who was a bronze medalist in women’s wrestling at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. “Just before my final, I found out that something had happened although I didn’t know what”.

Former World champion Adeline Gray did not place in the 75-kg division. Nikitin received the decision, prompting an outraged Conlan to denounce the International Boxing Association and Russian Federation as conspirators in corruption.

Maroulis then pinned Swedish wrestler Sofia Mattsson, the world No. 2 at 53kg, in the semis to book her spot in the gold medal match.

To increase recognition and respect for women’s wrestling, there must be a culture created around the sport where spectators and fans have to adapt and learn the rules, she said.

After her 4-1 victory over Yoshida in the 117-pound weight class, Maroulis had reframed the state of the sport in the USA, four years after wondering whether it was time to quit after she failed to make the 2012 London Games.