#WrestleOslo

#WrestleOslo Day Five Preview: WW 57kg, 59kg, 68kg and 72kg

Wednesday, September 22, 2021 - 16:26 By Ken Marantz

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 22) -- Newly crowned Olympic champion Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) used part of her bonuses from winning the gold medal in Tokyo to outfit her mother, an expert cook, with a flashy, fully furnished food truck.

Mensah Stock will now be leaping from the frying pan of the Olympics into the fire of the World Championships as she aims to defend her title in the women's 68kg class, which gets underway Oct. 6 along with three other women's divisions.

The Olympic weight class of 57kg will also get started, featuring Tokyo bronze medalists Helen MAROULIS (USA) and Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL), as well as the non-Olympic weights of 59kg and 72kg.

Mensah Stock is confident she can maintain the intensity that propelled her to the top of the podium in her Olympic debut as she makes the three-month turnaround to get ready for Oslo.

"It's definitely hard physically and mentally, just to get back on the mat...to get back on that train and really prepare yourself for the fact that the World Championships are just around the corner from the Olympics," Mensah Stock commented in an interview by email.

"But at the same time, it's a competition, just like the Ranking Series competitions, and you know, any other competition. We have them once a month anyway, so we're already equipped for what was about to happen."

Handling pressure, she says, it's part of the job.

"Yes, the Olympics were extremely high mentally on pressure, but at the same time, we're wrestlers and we're equipped and prepared for the hardest battles."

Mensah Stock, who will turn 29 four days after the medal matches on Oct. 7, said she had always planned to defend the world title that she won for the first time in 2019 in Nur-Sultan.


Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) celebrates winning the 68kg Olympic gold. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Adding Olympic champion to her resume brings with it added pressure, but the vivacious Chicago-born, Texas-raised Mensah Stock is maintaining the same bring-it-on attitude.

"I like to consider myself someone that is always improving so I don't want to feel the pressure," she wrote. "I'm here, enjoying the fact that I'm wrestling by the grace of God...I am just here to wrestle and wrestle the best that I can."

She's been doing that quite well since starting the sport in high school after reportedly being bullied on the athletics team. She continued the sport at Wayland Baptist University, winning two national championships.

On the global stage, Mensah Stock found her way onto numerous podiums, but missed out on the 2016 Rio Olympics and lost in the third round in her debut at the World Championships in 2017.

Her breakthrough came in 2018, when she won a bronze medal at the Budapest worlds, which she followed up with a dominant performance the following year at Nur-Sultan to secure spot at the Olympics for the U.S. That included a one-sided victory over Rio gold medalist Sara DOSHO (JPN) -- which she would repeat at the Tokyo Olympics.

The top candidates to knock Mensah Stock off her lofty perch in Oslo are 2018 world champion Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) and Tokyo silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) and bronze medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ).

Larroque, who beat Mensah Stock in the 2018 world semifinals, saw her Olympic dream shattered in a stunning first-round loss to Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL). Larroque was leading 3-0 when the Mongolian clamped her in a headlock and recorded a fall with 19 seconds left.

Heading into Tokyo, Larroque was coming off victories at the European Championships and Poland Open. She will be looking to add the senior title to the two world junior crowns she won in 2016 and 2018, as well as the 2017 world U23 gold.

Oborududu, a 10-time African champion, gave Mensah Stock a run for her money in the Olympic final but came out on the short end of a 4-1 decision. That was a near repeat of the American's 6-1 win in their first-round clash at the 2019 worlds.

Zhumanazarova joined 62kg silver medalist Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) as the first female Olympic medalists in any sport in Kyrgyzstan history, and the 2019 world junior silver medalist would love nothing more than to join her esteemed compatriot as a world champion.

With none of Japan's Olympians making the trip to Oslo, 2020 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix silver medalist Rin MIYAJI (JPN) will be making her world debut after beating 2019 world junior champion Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) in a playoff to make the Japanese team.


Helen MAROULIS (USA) is on a quest to win a third world title and first since the '17 Paris World Championships. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

At 57kg, the absence of two-time Olympic and three-time world champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) opens the door for 2016 Rio Olympic gold medalist Maroulis to make a bid for a third world title and first since 2017.

After famously denying Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) what would have been a historic fourth Olympic gold medal by beating her in the 53kg final in Rio, Maroulis was hampered by injury problems, including serious concussions, over the ensuing years.

But she came back strong in 2020 and qualified for Tokyo, where she lost a close 2-1 decision in the semifinals to Kawai, the Rio champ at 63kg. Coming away with a bronze was far from disappointing, given the inner strength she showed along the difficult path to get there.

"As humans, we are so powerful, but we are so fragile and so vulnerable," she said in an interview with Hollywood Life. "It really helped me tap into ‘human-ness.' It’s been a really beautiful journey.”

Nikolova, a 2015 world bronze medalist at 55kg, walked away with the other bronze with a victory by fall over 2016 Olympic silver medalist Valeria KOBLOVA (RWF). Along with Maroulis, Koblova was one of only three non-Japanese who had ever beaten Yoshida (Marcie van Dusen (USA) was the other).

In place of Koblova, the Russian Wrestling Federation has sent Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RWF), who will certainly have something to prove in Oslo. She was the one who actually earned the spot in Tokyo at the final world qualifying tournament in Sofia that eventually went to Koblova. A month earlier, she won a silver medal at 59kg at the European Championships.

Never to be counted out is African star Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR), the 2019 world bronze medalist and 2018 silver medalist who will be looking to make amends for a disastrous showing in Tokyo.

Adekuoroye, who had whipped Maroulis 13-0 at the Poland Open in June, stormed to an 8-0 lead in her first-round match against Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), only to get caught in a lapse and lose by fall. Her medal hopes ended when Nichita lost her next match.

The absense of Kawai doesn't mean there won't be a formidable Japanese presence at 57kg. Sae NANJO (JPN), who completed a world junior and U23 double in 2019, has stepped into the void and is ready to make the most of her first shot at a senior world title.

It was the 22-year-old Nanjo who kept the high-profile clash between Rio Olympic champions Kawai and Kaori ICHO (JPN) for the Tokyo Olympic spot at 57kg from becoming a two-woman affair. In the final domestic qualifier, she nearly stole the spotlight when she lost a 3-3 thriller to Icho in the semifinals.

Nanjo, a product of the JOC Elite Academy and current student at powerhouse Shigakkan University, has yet to lose internationally on the senior level, winning at the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix and Asian Championships in 2017 before taking the two age-group crowns in 2019.

Also worth watching are a pair of newly crowned world junior champions, Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) and Alesia HETMANAVA (BLR). The latter triumphed at 55kg in Ufa, Russia.


European champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) heads into the World Championships as one the 59kg favorites. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

At 59kg, the field is wide open with neither reigning champion Linda MORAIS (CAN) nor any of the other 2019 world medalists making the trip to Oslo. On paper, the ones to watch appear to be Nichita and Akie HANAI (JPN), both of whom have won world titles on the age group level.

The 22-year-old Nichita finished seventh after suffering a heartbreaking loss of her own in the quarterfinals, and will be looking to make amends in her second trip to the senior worlds and become Moldova's first-ever female medalist.

The 2020 European gold medalist was the 2019 world U23 silver medalist and a world junior finalist for three straight years, sandwiching a gold in 2018 with silvers in 2017 and 2019.

Nichita's Olympic dream ended in stunning fashion. After her win over Odekuoroye, she had the tables turned on her by Nikolova, who hit a last-second 4-point lateral drop for a 6-3 victory in the quarterfinals.

Hanai will be making her senior world debut, having previously won the 2019 world junior title at 57kg and finished second at the 2018 world U23 at 59kg.

The 21-year-old Hanai earned her ticket to Oslo by winning the two national championships that serve as domestic qualifiers. In her corner at each tournament was Kawai, whom Hanai helped prepare for her gold-medal run at the Tokyo Olympics as her training partner.

Hanai is currently a student at Shigakkan, where alumnus Kawai still trains. She said that working out with the now two-time Olympic champion has taught her not only about techniques, but about handling the pressure of matches and daily life.

"She has let me be her partner for a long time and by always practing with her, it has brought me to where I am today," Hanai said after her victory at the All-Japan Invitiational Championships in May. "I felt pressure for this tournament, but it's nothing like the Olympic Games."

Hanai will be familiar with another contender in Grace BULLEN (NOR), the world U23 champion in 2018. That year, Bullen defeated Hanai in the final at the 2018 Klippan Lady.

Since then, Bullen won the Klippan again and captured the European title at 57kg in 2020, adding to her continental gold from 2017.   

Others to watch are Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL), who placed fifth at the Tokyo Olympics at 57kg; European champion and 2018 world silver medalist Bilyana  DUDOVA (BUL); double Asian champion Sarita SARITA (IND) and 2019 European silver medalist Svetlana LIPATOVA (RWF).


Masako FURUCHI (JPN) will look to add a senior world title to a stcked resume that includes cadet, junior and U23 world titles. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

At 72kg, 2019 world bronze medalist Masako FURUCHI (JPN) is in position to become the second Japanese to complete the world "grand slam" by adding a senior gold to her cadet, junior and U23 titles.

"I went to the World Championshps in 2019 in the same weight class and I finished in third place," Furuichi said after securing her ticket to Oslo with a victory at the All-Japan Invitational. "This time I will fight hard to become champion."

Furuichi, also a product of the JOC Elite Academy, twice came up short in a bid to make the Tokyo Olympics, first at 76kg and then at 68kg, before returning to her niche weight of 72kg.

"Up to two years ago, I faced the top wrestlers as I tried to make it to the Tokyo Olympics, and I want to make use of what I gained from that experience," she said. "I want to win the world title and have that lead to the next step."

The 24-year-old Furuichi, a two-time Asian medalist, was slated to be on the Japan squad to this year's continental championships in Almaty, but the women's team was withdrawn due to exposure to a person infected with the coronavirus.

About two months after taking a bronze medal at the 2019 senior worlds, Furuichi dropped down to 68kg and won the world U23 gold in Budapest, putting her a step closer to joining Haruna OKUNO (JPN) as the only wrestlers with world golds in the four age groups. Furuichi has already made history by winning three straight world titles both as a cadet in 2011-2013 and a junior in 2014-2016."

With none of the other 2019 medalists in the field, leading the opposition aiming to deny Furuichi a place in history will be Anna SCHELL (GER), a 2019 world bronze medalist at 68kg who placed eighth in that division at the Tokyo Olympics.

Schell, the 2019 European silver medalist, showed she can take it up a notch when she defeated former champion Dosho in the bronze-medal match at the 2019 worlds in Nur-Sultan.

Others expected to be in contention are European silver medalist Yuliana YANEVA (BUL), the 2020 Individual World Cup champion who finished fifth at 65kg in Nur-Sultan; three-time Asian medalist Zhamila BAKBERGEANOVA (KAZ); and a pair of world junior medalists this year, 76kg champion Kylie WELKER (USA) and 68kg bronze medalist Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK).

#WrestleParis

Paris 2024: Fujinami, unbeaten in 137 straight bouts, becomes Olympic champion

Thursday, August 8, 2024 - 23:10 By Ken Marantz

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PARIS (August 8) -- There is domination and there is the way that Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) overwhelmingly puts away every opponent who stands before her on the mat. And at just 20, it looks to continue for some time to come.

Fujinami capped an unobstructed run to the Olympic gold at women's 53kg with her fourth straight win of the tournament by fall or technical fall, overwhelming Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) 10-0 in the final on Thursday at the Paris Olympics.

"It's the best! The Olympics is the best! Wrestling is the best!" said a jubilant Fujinami, who extended her current winning streak at home and abroad to 137 matches in a row dating back to her junior high school days.

In the other finals at a packed Champs de Mar Arena, the Greco competition concluded with Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) winning Iran's second gold in two nights with a victory at 67kg, while Ukrainian-born Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) denied Iran a third by taking the 87kg gold for his adopted country.

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) scores a takedown on Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) in the 53kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

For Fujinami, the final against Yepez, who became Ecuador's first-ever Olympic wrestling medalist, offered a challenge from the only non-Japanese opponent who has ever given the reigning world champion a hint of trouble.

In a second-round match at last year's World Championships in Belgrade, Yepez stunned Fujinami and the wrestling world by jumping out to a 5-0 lead. Fujinami bounced back and won the match by fall after building a 16-7 lead, but the seven points remain the most ever scored on her by a non-Japanese opponent.

Not only that, but the only non-Japanese to go the distance during Fujinami's streak (116 of the 137 wins are by fall or technical fall) was Yepez, in a 3-1 loss in the semifinals at the 2018 World Cadet (U17) Championships.

As such, Fujinami remained cautiously aggressive during the match, working the opponent nicknamed "The Tiger" around the mat to set up her lethal takedowns that came one after another. Whether single-leg or double, Fujinami got three in the first period, then ended the match at 3:37 with two more in the second period.

After the match, Fujinami exchanged a poignant hug with Yepez. "Thinking back to our last match, it motivated me in practice," Fujinami said. "She's one of the athletes who has inspired me. I wanted to convey my thanks to her."

Fujinami had the pleasure of winning the gold in front of her parents, with her father Toshikazu having the best seat in the house. He was in her corner at matside, ostensibly as a national team coach but more as her private mentor.

Toshikazu has been her coach since she started wrestling at age 4, even following her to Tokyo from their home in central Japan to take a coaching position when she enrolled at powerhouse Nippon Sports Science University (among her other coaches there is a four-time Olympic gold medalist Kaori ICHO).

The two share an apartment, with dad also filling the unfamiliar role of cook. They have their share of clashes, but the combination has been working on the mat. Their joy of success is mutual. Those were his arms she leaped into after her victory.

"There are times we've clashed and had our share of arguments, but if my father wasn't with me, I would not be here today," said Fujinami, whose mother and grandmother watched the Paris final in the stands. "He's the person I owe the most gratitude."

For the two-time world champion, a recent spate of injuries have been all that has kept her from piling up more wins and titles. She skipped the 2022 World Championships due to a foot injury and participated in no pre-Olympic tournaments this year after suffering a dislocated elbow and undergoing surgery in March.

"It's the greatest of feelings [to win the gold], and everyone talks about the winning streak and it may look like it was smooth sailing, but when I had surgery in March, there were times when I thought it might be impossible," Fujinami said.

"To get the gold medal today, I feel that everything that I went through seemed necessary, and the injury was an experience that led to this shining moment."

She also credited the large contingent of Japanese fans, friends and teammates who have supported her along the way.

"I absolutely know that I didn't fight with just my own power," Fujinami said. "The many people cheering me on and supporting me brought me here today. I feel this is a gold medal that we all fought for and we all won together."

Fujinami's last defeat came in the finals at the 2017 National Junior High School Championships, when she fell 7-2 to Umi ITO (JPN). She made her senior debut with a victory at the 2020 All-Japan Championships and won her first senior world title the following year.

For Yepez, making history for Ecuador caused her to become emotional on the medal podium.

"A lot of things came to my mind, like when I was 10 years old, I battled a lot for this result," she said. "We have very few resources. My mother worked all day to pay expenses. Maybe one time I will get the gold medal. But this girl who was 10 years old is now an Olympic medalist."

Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI)Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) celebrates after winning the gold medal in the 67kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the Greco 67kg final, Esmaeili, two years removed from a world U20 championship and less than a month after his 21st birthday, relegated Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) to a second straight silver medal with a second-period surge.

Nasibov fought off an arm throw to score a takedown in the first period before adding a passivity point to lead 3-0 at the break. Esmaeili struck back quickly in the second period, getting behind for a takedown within seconds, then went ahead on criteria with a passivity point. Like Nasibov, he was unable to get a turn from par terre.

Nasibov regained the advantage with a takedown, but Esmaeili stuffed a throw attempt for a 2-point exposure to lead on criteria 6-6. An unsuccessful challenge made it 7-6, which is how it ended as Esmaeili joined Greco 97kg champ Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) as Iran's lone gold medalist in Paris.

“Thanks to God for achieving this medal," said Esmaeili, who defeated Tokyo Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) in a playoff to earn his ticket to Paris.

"If you follow wrestling you know how difficult it is, and in the last two years, it has also been difficult because I lost some relatives, and I withdrew from wrestling. I was able to put everything behind me and achieve this gold medal."

As for his new-found status as the rising star of Greco, Esmaeili commented, "It’s a big honor to be called 'a new talent,' and I’m humbled. I have to make more effort to win more medals.”

For Nasibov, there are deeper concerns than having to settle for a second silver medal as his country continues its defense against the Russian aggressor.

"It's hard to find the right words," he said. "While I feel joy, the people who defend my country, my family, are at war. I am sharing this precious medal with the people who defend our country."

Semen NOVIKOV (BUL)Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) dominated Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) in the 87kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari) 

At Greco 87kg, Novikov had been competing in the shadow of compatriot and two-time Olympic medalist Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) when he decided to make a career move by changing his citizenship.

The 26-year-old became naturalized in Bulgaria in 2022, and two years later, ironically shared an Olympic podium with Beleniuk, albeit on a higher step after defeating Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) 7-4 in the final.

"I dreamed about this when I was a child to one day be an Olympic champion," Novikov said. "The dream has come true."

In the final, Novikov started his charge to the gold with a gut wrench from par terre for a 3-0 lead. He received a second passivity point in the second period and, while he wasn't able to convert, he kept continual pressure on Mohmadipiani and tacked on three stepouts.

"The final fight was very good for me," Novikov said, adding, "Yesterday was harder in the semifinal," referring to his 3-1 win over world champion David LOSONCZI (HUN).

Before becoming Bulgaria's first Olympic wrestling champion in 24 years, Novikov had already been quite productive for his adopted country. He won bronze medals at both the World and European Championships in 2023, and picked up international wins this year in Antalya and Budapest.

Zhan BELENIUK (UKR)Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) announced his retirement after winning the bronze medal at 87kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Beleniuk completes Olympic set with bronze

While it was not his actual goal coming into Paris, Beleniuk completed the set of Olympic medals when he won the bronze at Greco 87kg with a 3-1 victory over Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL).

Beleniuk, the gold medalist in Tokyo and silver medalist at Rio 2016, got a gut wrench from par terre, then held out when Kulynycz had a second chance with a minute to go in the match.

"My main goal was to show a good result and medal," Beleniuk said. "Our Ukrainian athletes aren't just athletes who fight for some medals. We should spend the time here to share information about Ukraine because the war continues, and we should share support with our audience and partners in this war."

There will be no fourth Olympic medal for the 33-year-old two-time world champion, as he left his shoes on the mat after the match as the latest star of the sport announcing his retirement in this traditional way at the Games.

"For me, it's enough," Beleniuk said. "It's a good time to retire."

The other Greco 87kg bronze went to Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN), who could only manage a stepout on a throw attempt during a second chance at par terre, but it was enough for a 2-1 victory over Losonczi.

Bisultanov, the 2022 European champion who defeated Losonczi in the final of the 2023 Zagreb Open, became just the second Olympic medalist for Denmark since 1948 after Mark MADSEN (DEN) won a Greco silver at Rio 2016.

The bronze medals at Greco 67kg went to the finalists from last year's World Championships in Belgrade, Luis ORTA (CUB) and Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), who both posted one-sided victories.

Orta, the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist at 60kg who won the world title in his move up to the next Olympic weight, will go home with a second Olympic medal after a dominant 7-0 victory over Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM).

As for whether he will try for a third medal, Orta responded, "First I simply want to enjoy my medal with my teammates and with my family, my son, and then I will think about Los Angeles [in 2028]."

Two-time reigning European champion Jafarov scored a takedown in the opening seconds and never let up, rolling to an 8-0 victory over Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) to add the Olympic Greco 67kg bronze to his world silver from last year and bronze from 2022.

At women's 53kg, Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) gave the DPR Korea its first-ever Olympic women's wrestling medal with a 10-0 victory over Annika WENDLE (GER), who could offer little resistance after suffering a knee injury early in the contest.

Wendle twisted her knee during a Choe takedown less than 20 seconds into the match. After an extended period of treatment, she continued, but to no avail. Choe did not attack the injured limb, but easily got behind on four straight takedowns to end the match at 1:36.

Qianyu PANG (CHN), the Tokyo silver medalist, took home the other bronze when she defeated Khulan BATKHYAG (MGL) by fall in a match that saw plenty of action despite lasting just 1:05.

Pang opened up with a double-leg takedown to the back for 4, and Batkhyag responded with a nice ankle pick for a takedown. But as she tried to lever Pang over, the Chinese suddenly reversed the situation and landed chest-to-chest on top of Batkhyag for a quick fall.

"I don't find anything regretful because I give it my all each and every time," Pang said of having to settle for a bronze. "I will regroup and continue to train because I love wrestling."

Day 4 Results

Freestyle

57kg
SF1: Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) df. AMAN (IND) by TF, 10-0, 2:14
SF2: Spencer LEE (USA) df. Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) by TF, 14-4, 2:43

86kg
SF1: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) df. Aaron BROOKS (USA), 4-3
SF2: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) df. Myles AMINE (SMR), 7-1

Greco-Roman

67kg
GOLD: Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Parviz NASIBOV (UKR), 6-5

BRONZE: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df. Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) by TF, 8-0, 2:14
BRONZE: Luis ORTA (CUB) df. Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), 7-0

87kg
GOLD: Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) df. Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI), 7-4

BRONZE: Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) df. Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL), 3-1
BRONZE: Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) df. David LOSONCZI (HUN), 2-1

Women's Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) by TF, 10-0, 3:37

BRONZE: Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) df. Annika WENDLE (GER) by TF, 10-0, 1:36
BRONZE: Qianyu PANG (CHN) df. Khulan BATKHYAG (MGL) by Fall, 1:05 (6-2)

57kg
SF1: Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) df. Helen MAROULIS (USA), 10-5
SF2: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df. Kexin HONG (CHN) by Fall, 1:37 (2-7)