#WrestleAcapulco

Godinez stuns 2 world champs for Pan-Am title

Friday, May 6, 2022 - 22:13 By Vinay Siwach

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ACAPULCO, Mexico (May 6) -- When Karla GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) was 13 years old, she was excited about a trip to Disneyland. Little did she know that she will be in a foreign country, Canada, and beginning a new life.

Hailing from Aguascalientes, Mexico, she did not speak the language nor did she know the culture when her parents settled in Surrey. But it was the start of a new life in an unknown land.

More than 12 years later, Godinez, having survived all the challenges, won the Pan-Am title after defeating two world champions in a single day, incidentally in her country of birth -- Mexico.

Godinez participated in her first senior Pan-Am Championships Friday and came home with a gold medal after beating world and defending champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) 8-5 in the 55kg final.

This was one of the two gold medals Canada won on the second day of the tournament along with the USA which also won two in women's wrestling.

Friday also saw the three remaining Greco-Roman gold medals being awarded. Guatemala was denied its first-ever Pan-Am champion in Greco-Roman while Cuba captured the remaining two golds.

But the day belonged to Godinez who pulled off one of the most shocking wins at the Pan-Am Championships in recent history.

Her day began against U23 world champion Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU), a bout that was significant in determining if she faced Winchester in the semifinal or final.

Godinez scored a takedown against Yepez before giving up two non-action points to lead 2-2 on criteria at the break. With just over a minute remaining in the bout, she scored a takedown to take a clear 4-2 lead and booked her spot in the semifinal.

The 24-year-old destroyed Nadia TRUJILLANO LA ROSA (PER) 11-0 in the semifinal while Winchester had a similar score against Yepez in the other semifinal.

Winchester was a heavy favorite in the final against Godinez and it began that way when she scored the first takedown in the final. But Godinez was unfazed by that.

She switched levels when going for a single leg against Winchester. After getting hold of the USA wrestler's left leg, she quickly gripped the right and tossed her opponent for a four.

But Winchester is known for a comeback. That is how she won her first world title. Both wrestlers traded stepouts before Winchester managed a takedown to tie the score 5-5. But she needed another point as Godinez led on criteria owing to her four-point move.

At this point, Godinez wanted to keep the pressure up and not let Winchester find an opening.

"[My plan] was to keep moving forward," she said. "I was going to leave everything on the mat. I was giving it all."

But Winchester upped the pressure and got a stepout, almost. Godinez circled back from the danger zone and managed to score a counter takedown when Winchester was hoping for a pushout. After the clock expired, the USA wrestler challenged the call but it was not to be.

As she struggled to hold her tears, Godinez's childhood and sacrifices flashed in front of her eyes.

"I've been through a lot and I feel like when I am on the mat, I put it out there," she said.

As a naturally reserved person, Godinez was struggling to express her feeling but embraced her younger sister Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) after the win. The two have an elder sister, the famous Mixed Martial Arts fighter Lupita, and it was on her insistence that they trained in wrestling.

Despite being late beginners in the sport, both Karla and Ana have been dominating nationally and internationally. Ana is a U23 world champion while Karla is now a Pan-Am champ.

The second gold for Canada came at 59kg when Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) beat Ameyalli JESSEL ROJAS (MEX) in their Round 3 head-to-head clash. Both had a win over Xochitl MOTA PETTIS (USA) in the morning session which made their clash a virtual gold-medal bout. Beauregard finished the bout in just 35 seconds, as Jessel had no answer to her leg-lace.

Forrest MOLINARI (USA)Forrest MOLINARI (USA), blue, won the 65kg gold medal at the Pan-Am Championships. (Photo: UWW / Osvaldo Aguilar)

USA won two gold medals thanks to spirited performances by Forrest MOLINARI (USA) and Skylar GROTE (USA) at 65kg and 72kg.

Molinari, who had begun this year with silver at Ivan Yargiun and gold at Istanbul Ranking Series, claimed the gold with an easy outing in Acapulco. She won all three of her bouts dominating her opponents.

The bout which confirmed her gold in the Nordic-style bracket was over Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN) in Round 3. She defeated the Canadian via fall.

"I am not entirely thrilled with my performance here," Molinari said. "I am very big on detail and I honestly think that there are a lot of areas I can clean up but it's just good to be back out here, get back to weight, see where I need to clean up."

To the normal eye, it looked close to a perfect performance as she spent only four minutes and 46 seconds on the mat in the morning session. The gold will also help Molinari become the number one ranked wrestler in the weight class.

But that is irrelevant to her as she explained that the Pan-Am title was just a step toward gearing up to win the world title in Belgrade, Serbia later this year.

"Just one more to add to the list," she said. "These tournaments are steps to get to the world title. I know I am the best in the world and I am going to prove it this year. I say it every year but I continue to grow. It's about executing. The things we practice, we need to execute in competitions, being sharp and this is just practice for Worlds to do that."

Skylar GROTE (USA)Skylar GROTE (USA) won the gold at 72kg, her first Pan-Am title at the senior level. (Photo: UWW / Osvaldo Aguilar)

The second gold for the USA at 72kg was won by Grote to give the USA another 25 points in the team title. In a Nordic-style bracket, Grote won the gold over Maria GARCIA BAUTISTA (MEX) by defeating the Mexican wrestler in the Round 3 bout.

Grote, a former junior Pan-Am champion, won 10-0 over Brenda AGUIAR DOS SANTOS (BRA) in Round 1 while got a walkover by an injured Taylor FOLLENSBEE (CAN) in Round 2.

In the bout against Garcia, she began with a takedown and three gut-wrenches before finishing the match with another takedown. Grote did not give up a single point in the competition.

"It's a grinding season," Grote said referring to the US Open title she won five days back. "I am looking forward to the World Team Trial and winning the world title. That's the goal."

Grote has switched between wrestling for the USA and Canada but will be looking to make the USA world team later in June.

"I wanted to prove that I am getting better with every tournament that I compete in. That is my goal. I want to be better than the last tournament and I feel like I am consistently doing that. It's about believing in myself. I gave up on the external validation I used to seek and I know I have what it takes."

The next for the young wrestler will be to make a mark outside of the USA and Grote thinks she is ready to do that, even sending a warning to her rivals.

"I am tough and I am going to wrestle everywhere and I am going out to battle," she said. "Grote isn't going down without a fight."

Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB)Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB), blue, won the 77kg Greco-Roman weight class. (Photo: UWW / Osvaldo Aguilar)

Guatemala denied

Guatemala will have to wait for its first-ever Pan-Am Greco-Roman champion as David CHOC HUOC (GUA) and Reinier JIMENEZ TERRY (GUA) both suffered losses in the 77kg and 82kg finals respectively.

Cuba won two gold medals Friday when Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) defeated Choc 7-2 in the 77kg final while Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB) humbled Johan BATISTA (DOM)  9-0 in the 87kg final.

The third gold medal went to local star Daniel VICENTE GOMEZ (MEX) who handed Reinier JIMENEZ TERRY (GUA) a 1-1 defeat, avenging the loss against the Guatemala wrestler from the morning session.  

Pena's bouts were not high scoring but his run to the final won controlled wins. In the final, he was awarded a point for Choc's passivity. He managed to score a four-pointer from par terre and then added two more points. Choc did score a reversal and then a point in the second period but that was not enough.

This was the second straight year that Choc had missed the chance to create history as in 2021 he lost the final to Benjamin PROVISOR (USA) at the home Pan-Am Championships.

Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB)Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB) won his second Pan-Am title. (Photo: UWW / Osvaldo Aguilar)

Cuba's second gold of the day went to two-time U23 world medalist Gregorich who defeated Batista with two stepouts and three guts from par terre. The Tokyo Olympian now has two Pan-Am titles, four years after he won the first.

His gold helped Cuba gain some valubale points in the team title race which they were destined to finished second.

But Vicente 1-1 win over two-time Pan-Am bronze medalist Jimenez in the 82kg final helped Mexico stay ahead in the team title race which was won by the USA with 165 points, 17 more than second-placed Mexico. Cuba had 101 points to finish third.

Vicente had suffered a 10-1 loss to Jimenez in the morning session but he avenged that when it mattered the most in the gold medal bout. Vincente and Jimenez exchanged inactivity points in either period of the final with the Mexcian winning 1-1 on criteria. 

The remaining six women's wrestling and two freestyle weight classes will be in action Saturday in Acapulco, Mexico.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

55kg
GOLD:  Karla GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) df. Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), 8-5

BRONZE: Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) df. Nadia TRUJILLANO LA ROSA (PER), 10-0

59kg
GOLD: Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)
SILVER: Ameyalli JESSEL ROJAS (MEX)
BRONZE: Xochitl MOTA PETTIS (USA)

Key Match: Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) df. Ameyalli JESSEL ROJAS (MEX), 10-0 in Round 3

65kg
GOLD: Forrest MOLINARI (USA)
SILVER: Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN)
BRONZE: Atzimba LANDAVERDE MORENO (MEX)

Key Match: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) df. Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN), via fall in Round 3

72kg
GOLD: Skylar GROTE (USA) 
SILVER: Brenda AGUIAR DOS SANTOS (BRA)
BRONZE: Maria GARCIA BAUTISTA (MEX)

Key Match: Skylar GROTE (USA) df. Brenda AGUIAR DOS SANTOS (BRA), 10-0 in Round 1

Greco-Roman

77kg
GOLD: Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) df. David CHOC HUOC (GUA), 7-2

BRONZE: Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA) df. John YEATS (CAN), 8-0
BRONZE: Ravaughn PERKINS (USA) df. Emmanuel BENITEZ CASTRO (MEX), 3-2

82kg
GOLD: Daniel VICENTE GOMEZ (MEX) df. Reinier JIMENEZ TERRY (GUA), 1-1

BRONZE: Tyler CUNNINGHAM (USA) df. Nestor TAFUR (COL), 6-0 via VCA

87kg
GOLD: Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB) df. Johan BATISTA (DOM), 9-0

BRONZE: Carlos MUNOZ JARAMILLO (COL) df. Ariel ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ (HON), 11-3
BRONZE: Alfonso LEYVA YEPEZ (MEX) df. Andre RAMOS PINTO (BRA), 7-5

#WrestleZagreb

Motoki works her magic to snatch elusive world gold

Thursday, September 18, 2025 - 22:33 By Ken Marantz

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ZAGREB, Croatia (September 17) -- Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) finally has a world gold to go with the one she won at the Paris Olympics. And she did it with another
dramatic victory, this time in the final.

As is becoming her forte, Motoki snatched a victory in the dying seconds of a match, beating Asian silver medalist Ok Ju KIM (PRK) 5-4 in the 62kg final at the World Championships on Thursday, as the women's competition concluded with a banner day for Japan.

"Just like at the Olympics, I went from a point where I thought I would lose, then the outcome suddenly changed and I was able to win," Motoki said. "It's the same feeling of happiness and feeling of relief, and brought me to tears."

Japan won two of the three other golds at stake, with Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) winning at 53kg for her fourth career world gold, and Ami ISHII (JPN) triumphing
at 68kg to become a two-time world champion.

The fourth and final gold of the night went to Alla BELINSKA (UKR), who repeated her victory over Nesrin BAS (TUR) from the final of the European Championships -- right down to winning by fall.

The three golds padded Japan's total in the team race, as the Asian powerhouse had clinched the title before the night began. Japan, which won five of the 10 golds, finished on top with 162 points, followed by the DPR Korea with 115 points. China edged the United States for third, 87-83.

Motoki made a name for herself around the world at the Paris Olympics, where her hopes of a gold seemed to be over in the semifinals, when she was trailing Grace BULLEN (NOR) 7-2 and was being tripped backwards for what might end the match.

But Motoki suddenly locked Bullen's arms and bridged, then turned her over and recorded a stunning fall to the shock of those in the Champ de Mars Arena and around the world. The next day she defeated Irina KOLIADENKO (UKR) for the gold.

Motoki had to survive a grueling qualifying process just to get to Paris. A world bronze medalist at 59kg, she moved up to the Olympic weight and had to win out among a domestic field that included Tokyo Olympic champion Yukako KAWAI (JPN) and world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN).

And she basically had to repeat the process to get to Zagreb. As she did in Paris, Motoki pulled a rabbit out of the hat and defeated Ozaki by scoring a takedown literally in the final second of a playoff for Japan's team.

On Thursday, Kim became the latest to fall victim to the Motoki magic. The Japanese took a 3-0 lead in the first period on an activity point and a sweeping single-leg takedown.

Trying to defend in the second period, Motoki gave up a single-leg takedown to Kim, which the Japanese was willing to concede. But she wasn't prepared for being
gut-wrenched over to suddenly fall behind 4-3 with :35 left.

"I had a three-point lead and when she got in on a single leg, I thought it would be alright to give up two [points]," Motoki said. "But then when I was rolled, I thought, 'This is bad. Once again I'm going to get this far and not win?'"

Ok Ju KIM (PRK)Ok Ju KIM (PRK) turns Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) to take a 4-3 lead in the 62kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In her two previous trips to the World Championships, Motoki fell short of the gold, taking the bronze in 2022 and the silver in 2023, losing to Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) in the final. Would she miss out on the gold again?

With 12 seconds left, she launched her attack, transitioning from one thing to another in a desperate attempt. First a low single, then an arm throw, then back to
a single. All were defended. Then she tried a headlock throw, and that sent Kim sideway to the mat as time ran out.

The referee gave no points, but on challenge, it was determined that Kim's shoulders broke the 90-degree plane -- with :00.3 seconds on the clock.

"In the last 12 seconds, I launched an attack, and when the tackles failed, I thought, 'Oh no, that's the end,'" Motoki said. "When I looked back, she was on my back. I thought if I threw her, I could make it. I just put everything into the throw, but I didn't know if I turned her. Really, it was lucky."

Sakura MOTOKI (JPN)Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) won her first world gold medal in Zagreb. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Motoki said her earlier losses at the worlds served as incentive to work harder and always give everything up to the final whistle. She told the Japanese press earlier this year that she uses the UWW music played during the medal ceremony as her morning alarm -- a constant reminder of the agony she never wanted to experience again.

"Three years ago and two years ago, I lost on this stage, and the feeling of disappointment and of being inferior, even after winning at the Olympics, did not go away," Motoki said. "But by losing, it made me stronger and made me what I am now. To win here makes me so happy."

Motoki will embark on another quest in a month's time when she competes at the World U23 Championships on October 20-27. Already a world U17 and U20 champion, a victory in Novi Sad, Serbia, will make her just the third member -- along with Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and Amit ELOR (USA) -- of the elite "Golden Grand Slam" club, those who have won on the senior and all three age-group levels as well as at the Olympics.

"One might think that winning on the age-group level would put you at the forefront, but that's not the case," Motoki said. "After I won the U17, I had an injury and became weaker. I lost in the first round at the Inter High. Then I went to college and thought I had progressed, only to have a major injury.

"To achieve the Grand Slam would be due to overcoming the hard times with the support of many others."

Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN)Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) controls Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) during the 53kg final at the World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 53kg, Murayama established herself as the frontrunner in the weight class in the runup to the 2028 Los Angeles, following the decision by Paris gold medalist Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) to move up to 57kg.

Murayama scored takedowns in each period to defeat Paris silver medalist Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) 5-0 and add to her world golds from 2017, 2018 and 2023, all won under her maiden name of OKUNO.

It marks the continuation of a remarkable turnaround for Murayama, who sank into the depths of despair after losing out on the berth for the Tokyo Olympics to collegiate teammate and eventual gold medalist Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN).

"I had half given up on the idea of competing at events like the World Championships in an Olympic weight class," Murayama said. "So just being able to stand on this stage and leave this kind of result behind -- it’s something that two or three years ago, I couldn’t even have imagined."

It was Yepez who famously scored seven points off Fujinami in the quarterfinals at the 2023 World Championships, albeit the Japanese came back and scored 16 of
her own before winning by fall. But the Ecuadorean, her country's first-ever world and Olympic medalist, established herself as a dangerous foe.

In the final, Murayama wrestled cautiously but methodically, using a front headlock to spin behind for a takedown just as she was receiving an activity point in the first period. She added a second takedown by getting behind again in the second period.

Murayama and Yepez had met once before, with the Japanese winning 10-0 in the final of the U23 World Championships in October 2022.

Ami ISHII (JPN)Ami ISHII (JPN) tries to score on Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) in the 68kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 68kg, Ishii had plowed through the field to make the final, where she met stiff resistance from four-time European medalist Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) and needed a second-period takedown to secure a 4-2 victory.

It was Yaneva who struck first when she adroitly used a counter lift for a two-point lead. Ishii came back with a stepout, but an apparent takedown was wiped out on challenge as having been completed after the buzzer.

Down by a point, Ishii warily avoided the counter and went with an arm drag to get behind for a takedown to go ahead 3-2. A short time later, Yaneva shot in for a single, but Ishii slipped under and grabbed Yaneva's leg, then clung on to force a stalemate. An unsuccessful challenge at the end gave Ishii her final point.

"I thought I might get countered again," Ishii said of her strategy for the second period. "Still, I had to get points. It would be the end if I lost my nerve. Even if I couldn't get in [on a tackle], I had to find a way to get points."

Ishii has been a workhorse since missing out on the Paris Olympics when she suffered a heartbreaking, last-second loss for the 68kg spot to Ozaki. She won the 72kg gold at last year's Non-Olympic World Championships as a sort of consolation, so winning at 68kg holds more significance.

"Without a doubt, it's getting to a place closer to the Olympics," Ishii said, adding that her mission now will be staying at the top of the division in Japan. "It's tough to be at this level, and I can't just keep going as I am now. I need to raise my level, so I have to train even harder."

In the last match of the night, two-time European champion Belinska, who had received an activity point in the first period, came out in the second and caught Bas in a headlock before securing the fall in 4:25.

"The final was tense, but I had prepared my throw, and I’m very happy that I managed to execute it," Belinska said. "In the first period, I couldn’t make that move, and the tension started to build -- but even in a stressful situation, I was still able to pull it off."

Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL)Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) defeated Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) to win bronze at 62kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Purevdorj captures bronze 8 years after striking gold

Eight years after winning a world gold, Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) finally picked up her another medal, taking a 62kg bronze by rallying to a nail-biting 6-5 victory over Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR).

After Purevdorj received an activity point in the first period, she fell into a large hole by giving up a 4-point takedown at the edge to open the second period. Purevdorj picked up a 2-point exposure on a scramble, which, after a scramble, revealed a foul by Kolawole. That gave Purevdorj a point and, significantly, put her on top in par terre.

She took advantage by executing a gut wrench and, even though Kolawole reversed, it left the Mongolian with a 6-5 advantage that she maintained through the end.

Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) earned her first world medal when she scored a duck under takedown in the final minute to defeat Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) 4-2 for the other 62kg bronze.

Asian champion Hyongyong CHOE (PRK) added the senior world bronze to her Olympic bronze from Paris with a victory at 53kg by second-period fall over Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) after building up an 8-0 lead.

Choe went for the kill at all times, scoring two exposures off a head lock, then ending the match when she scored a takedown and immediately applied a half-nelson to turn Akhmedova over.

Two-time Asian bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) gave India its first medal through six days in Zagreb, capping a 9-1 victory over Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) with a 4-point takedown for the other 53kg bronze.

Kennedy BLADES (USA), the Paris silver medalist at 76kg who made the drop all the way down to 68kg but couldn't get past Ishii, assured she wouldn't leave empty-handed when she routed Buse TOSUN (TUR) 12-1 for the bronze medal.

Jia LONG (CHN), last year's champion at 65kg at the Non-Olympic Worlds, defeated Sol Gum PAK (PRK) 6-1 for the other 68kg bronze. Long scored all of her points in the first period, with a takedown-roll combo followed by a go-behind takedown.

China also picked up a bronze at 72kg, when Zelu LI (CHN) fought off her back after a 4-point headlock by Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) to start the match, gradually chipping away until she came away with a 7-4 victory with three takedowns.

Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) scored a takedown in each period to top Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) 5-0 for the other 72kg bronze.

Day 6 Results

Women's Wrestling

53kg (23 entries)
GOLD: Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) df. Lucia YEPEZ (ECU), 5-0

BRONZE: ANTIM (IND) df. Jonna MALMGREN (SWE), 9-1
BRONZE: Hyongyong CHOE (PRK) df. Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) by Fall, 4:00 (8-0)

62kg (22 entries)
GOLD: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) df. Ok Ju KIM (PRK), 5-4

BRONZE: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), 6-5
BRONZE: Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) df. Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), 4-2

68kg (24 entries)
GOLD: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Yuliana YANEVA (BUL), 4-2

BRONZE: Kennedy BLADES (USA) df. Buse TOSUN (TUR) by TF, 12-1, 5:22
BRONZE: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Sol Gum PAK (PRK), 6-1

72kg (17 entries)
GOLD: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) df. Nesrin BAS (TUR) by Fall, 4:25 (5-0)

BRONZE: Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) df. Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA), 5-0
BRONZE: Zelu LI (CHN) df. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU), 7-4

Greco-Roman

55kg (18 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) df. Emin CAKIR (TUR) 2-2
SEMIFINAL: Payam AHMADI (IRI) df. Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) 3-1

77kg (33 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI), 5-1
SEMIFINAL: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) df. Robert FRITSCH (HUN), 3-1

82kg (26 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN), 8-5
SEMIFINAL: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) df. Karlo KODRIC (CRO), 7-1

130kg (27 entries)
SF 1: Darius VITEK (HUN) df. Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW), 3-1
SF 2: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Wenhao JIANG (CHN), 3-1