RIO DE JANEIRO (August 21) – Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) racked up a technical fall and Kyle SNYDER (USA) teased out a one-point victory as both claimed their first Olympic Games gold medals on Sunday, the final day of wrestling competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Ramonov dropped London 2012 gold medalist Togrul ASGAROV (RUS) to his back twice and bull-rushed for a final takedown in an 11-0 technical fall in the 65kg final at Carioca Arena 2.
The victory gave Russia its fourth gold medal in wrestling, following the 86kg crown won by Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) on Saturday evening and two gold medals in Greco-Roman – Roman VLASOV (RUS) at 75kg and Davit CHAKVETADZE (RUS) at 85kg.
Earlier in the day, Ramonov also defeated 2015 world silver medalist Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) by technical fall, 18-7, in the semifinals and two-time world bronze medal winner GANZORIG Mandakhnaran (MGL), 6-0, in the quarterfinals.
In wrestling’s finale at 97kg, Snyder opened with a single-leg attack to step-out point in the first period, then picked up another off the 30-second “shot-clock” and held on for a 2-1 win over Khetag GAZYUMOV (AZE).
Snyder’s win reversed a 2-1 loss at the German Grand Prix in July to Gazyumov, a two-time Olympic Games bronze medalist, 2010 world champion and a five-time world medalist.
In the bronze medal matches at 65kg, world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) broke a 2-2 tie midway through the second period with an outside single-leg takedown and held on for a 5-3 win over Frank MOLINARO (USA).
GANZORIG Mandakhnaran (MGL), meanwhile, managed to steal defeat from the jaws of victory – celebrating an apparent 7-6 win with 18 seconds remaining in the bout leading to a penalty for “fleeing the hold” when openly avoided contact with Navruzov in the final seconds.
The point and penalty were enough to give the win to Navruzov, touching off desperate and wildly animated protests and appeals by the Mongolian coaches to the head table, which allowed a video review giving Navruzov another point for the lost challenge.
At 97kg, Albert SARITOV (ROU) countered an opening single-leg attempt by Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) with a leg-scissors counter and raced forward for a 10-0 technical fall at 5:39 for one bronze medal.
Saritov’s bronze medal is the first Olympic Games medal in wrestling since Seoul 1988 when Vasile PUSCASU (ROU) won the gold medal at 100kg.
Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) scored the last takedown in a seesaw battle and held on for a 6-4 victory over London 2012 silver medalist Valeri ANDRIITSEV (UKR).
Also earlier in the day, Gazyumov turned away former two-time world champion Reza YAZDANI (IRI), 2-1, in the round of 16 and then locked up a cross-ankle lock and turn on Andriitsev in the semifinals for a 10-0 technical fall at 3:55.
Freestyle 65kg (21 entries)
Gold Medal Final
Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) df. Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) by TF, 11-0, 2:06
Bronze Medal Finals
Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) df. Frank MOLINARO (USA), 5-3
Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) df. GANZORIG Mandakhnaran (MGL), 8-7
Semifinals
Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) df. Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), 7-4
Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) df. Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) by TF, 18-7, 3:32
Repechage
Frank MOLINARO (USA) df. Andriy KVYATKOVSKY (UKR), 8-5
Haislan VERANES GARCIA (CAN) df. Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB), 3-3
GANZORIG Mandakhnaran (MGL) df. Haislan VERANES GARCIA (CAN), 3-0
Freestyle 97kg (19 entries)
Gold Medal Final
Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Khetag GAZYUMOV (AZE), 2-1
Bronze Medal Finals
Albert SARITOV (ROU) df. Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) by TF, 10-0, 5:39
Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) df. Valeri ANDRIITSEV (UKR), 6-4
Semifinals
Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO), 9-4
Khetag GAZYUMOV (AZE) df. Valeri ANDRIITSEV (UKR) by TF, 10-0, 3:55
Repechage
Albert SARITOV (ROU) df. Javier CORTINA LACERRA (CUB), 8-1
Reza YAZDANI (IRI) df. Radoslaw BARAN (POL), 5-2
Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) df. Reza YAZDANI (IRI) by Fall, 0:33 (5-0)
