SHE DID IT! Sarah Hildebrandt Grabs Gold

Sarah Hildebrandt. Photo courtesy of Tony Rotundo / WrestlersAreWarriors.com

by Derek Levendusky

PARIS, FRANCE - After four world medals without a world title and an Olympic bronze in 2020, Hildebrandt broke out in the biggest way possible on the biggest stage possible, winning an Olympic gold medal in Paris.

She defeated Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman 3-0 in the gold medal match to earn the ultimate prize in wrestling. Guzman was named a finalist after India’s Vinesh Phogat, who’d pulled the unthinkable upset over returning Olympic champion Yui Susaki earlier in the tournament, didn’t make weight. After missing the 50 kg weight by about 1/4 pound, Vinesh was disqualified from the Olympics and Guzman, who’d lost to Vinesh in the semis, was promoted to the finals. Vinesh was removed from the tournament bracket and did not receive the silver medal. The Indian National Team is appealing the decision not to award Vinesh a silver medal..

The gold medal makes Team USA 2-for-2, as Elor got things started yesterday with her own gold medal at 68 kg.

Team USA’s 53 kg representative Dominique Parrish lost her opening round match to Japan’s Akari Fujinami, though she was brought back into repechage when Fujinami advanced to the finals. She’ll wrestle tomorrow, hoping for a spot in the bronze match.