News and Notes: Greco-Roman Wrestling 59kg and 75kg Final Session

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6:52: In the final match of the opening day of the Olympic wrestling competition, Roman VLASOV (RUS) claimed his second straight Olympic title to go along with two world titles. Vlasov defeated Mark MADSEN (DEN) 5-1 in the gold-medal match at 75kg. Madsen is now a five-time silver medalist in world-level events. Vlasov used a four-point throw in the first period to take a 4-0 lead. That move proved to be the difference in the match as each wrestler would score a point the rest of the way. 

6:34: In a battle of past world champions, Saeid Mourad ABDVALI (IRI) defeated 33-year-old Peter BACSI (HUN) 5-2 to take the bronze medal at 75kg. ABDVALI scored a takedown in the first 10 seconds of the match, which was challenged and upheld, making the score 3-0. Bacsi inched closer after a two-point throw. In the second period ABDVALI would add a step out and point off passivity to win 5-2. 

6:21: KIM Hyeon-Woo (KOR), an Olympic champion in 2012 at 66kg, picked up his second straight Olympic medal by defeating Bozo STARCEVIC (CRO) 6-4 in the bronze-medal match at 75kg. Kim, a world champion in 2013, jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Starcevic came back with two gut wrench turns to take a 4-2 lead heading into the second period. In the second period Kim hit a slick duckunder and then used a two-point throw to take a 6-4 lead, which is how the match would end.

5:34: There will now be a short break as preparations are made for the victory ceremony at 59kg.

5:33: Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) followed up his first world title this past September with an Olympic title on Sunday in Rio. The Cuban defeated Shinobu OTA (JPN) by 8-0 technical fall in the gold-medal match at 59kg. In the first period Borrero Molina used a four-point throw, which he followed up with a turn to take a 6-0 lead. He then put the match away in the second period with a takedown. 

5:22: Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR) picked up his first Olympic medal and third world-level medal by defeating Rovshan BAYRAMOV (AZE) 1-1 in the bronze-medal match at 59kg. Bayramov scored the first point off passivity, but Berge came back to score the final point to take the match. His coaches immediately ran onto the mat to celebrate with him. Berge received a loud ovation from the crowd as he gave a celebratory dance after the walked off the mat. Berge becomes Norway's first Olympic medalist in wrestling since 1992. 

5:08: Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) gave Uzbekistan its second Olympic medal in Greco-Roman by defeating Arsen ERALIEV (KGZ) 13-8 in a wild match at 59kg. Tasmuradov led 5-0 after the opening period and appeared to be in control. Eraliev came out strong in the second and executed a four-point throw on the way to tying the match on the scoreboard at 6-6. Tasmuradov, though, would turn it on late and take a five-point victory. 

4:54: Saeid Mourad ABDVALI (IRI), a 2011 World champion, advanced to the bronze-medal match at 75kg with a 2-2 victory over Viktor NEMES (SRB) 2-2. Nemes scored first with a two-point throw to go up 2-0. The Iranian battled back in the second period, scoring a takedown with just under two minutes remaining, which proved to be the difference in the match.  

4:43: Olympic champion KIM Hyeon-Woo (KOR) earned a controlled 3-1 victory over YANG Bin (CHN) in repechage at 75kg. Yang scored first, but Kim scored three unanswered to take the victory and advance to the bronze-medal match against Bozo STARCEVIC (CRO). 

4:32: Two-time world medalist Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR) advanced to the bronze-medal match at 59kg with a 2-0 victory over Almast KEBISPAYEV (KAZ). The match was scoreless after the opening period. Berge was able to score two points off passivity in the final period and shut down Kebispayev. 

4:19: Arsen ERALIEV (KGZ) topped WANG Lumin (CHN) 4-2 in the repechage at 59kg. Eraliev executed a back arch throw for four points to take a 4-0 lead after the opening period. Wang would inch closer in the second period, but Araliev was able to hold on for the victory to advance to the bronze-medal match against Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB).

4:05: Two-time world bronze medalist Almast KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) came from behind to pin Olympic champion and six-time world champion Hamid SORYAN (IRI) in the opening match of repechage at 59kg. Soryan used a four-point throw and turn to go up 6-0 after the opening period. Soryan added a step-out point to go up 7-0 and appeared to be on his way to a technical fall. Kebispayev quickly put himself back in the match with a four-point throw and a short time later put Soryan to his back and earned the fall.