Women's Freestyle Takeaways From The 2024 Olympics
Women's Freestyle Takeaways From The 2024 Olympics
A look back at what transpired during a memorable women's freestyle competition at the 2024 Olympic Games.
The 2024 Paris Olympics are over. Here are women’s freestyle takeaways from a memorable competition.
United States Women Set Records
The United States women’s freestyle team delivered a record-setting performance in Paris. Sarah Hildebrandt (50 kg) and Amit Elor (68 kg) won gold — marking the first time the American women earned multiple gold medals in the same Olympics. Team USA also had four total medals — tying the record set in Tokyo.
Team USA Results
Helen Maroulis continues to set the bar high. Her bronze medal performance made her the first American woman to win three Olympic medals. That’s in addition to becoming the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in women’s freestyle (2016). The 32-year-old is a four-time World and Olympic champion and a 10-time World/Olympic medalist.
Helen Maroulis At The Worlds And Olympics
Amit Elor is on pace to set the bar higher than any American wrestler — ever. Elor is already a three-time World and Olympic champion at the age of 20 and she isn’t slowing down. Her last loss was in the semifinals of the 2019 Cadet World Championships.
Her records include:
— Youngest American to win an Olympic gold medal in wrestling (20)
— Youngest American to win a Senior World title (18)
— Only American to win the U20, U23, and Senior World Championships in the same year (2022)
— Only American to win the U20, U23, and Senior World Championships in the same year twice (2022, 2023)
— Tied with Helen Maroulis for the most consecutive World/Olympic titles by an American woman (3)
Amit Elor At The Worlds And Olympics
New Gold Standard
There are currently 13 American women who have won at least one World or Olympic title. Hildebrandt added her name to the list while Elor moved into a tie for third with Tamyra Mensah-Stock for the most gold medals.
Adeline Gray — 6
Helen Maroulis — 4
Tricia Saunders — 4
Tamyra Mensah-Stock — 3
Amit Elor — 3
Kristie Davis — 2
Sandra Bacher — 1
Iris Smith — 1
Clarissa Chun — 1
Elena Pirozhkova — 1
Jacarra Winchester — 1
Dom Parrish — 1
Sarah Hildebrandt — 1
College Competition
Several NAIA and NCAA colleges were represented at the Olympics, led by Simon Fraser with four participants. Below is a list of schools with their respective representatives.
Simon Fraser (4): Dom Parrish (USA), Helen Maroulis (USA), Ana Godinez (CAN), Justina Di Stasio (CAN)
Campbellsville (2): Grace Bullen (NOR), Kayla Miracle (USA)
Iowa (1): Kennedy Blades (USA)
King (1): Sarah Hildebrandt (USA)
Missouri Baptist (1): Helen Maroulis (USA)
Japan’s Golden Performance
Japan arguably had its best Olympic performance despite the pound-for-pound best wrestler in the world getting knocked off in the first round. Yui Susaki entered the Olympics as a five-time World and Olympic champion with no losses to an opponent outside of Japan.
India’s Vinesh Phogat defeated Susaki in the first round, 3-2, but Phogat was disqualified when she didn’t make weight the second day despite reaching the finals. Because of the strange circumstances, Susaki won one match to take the bronze medal.
Japan's women won four golds and two bronzes, and went 20-2 at the Olympics, winning all three head-to-head matches with the United States.
Pan-American Fever
The Pan-American Championships are no longer a dual between the United States and Canada. Ecuador, Columbia, Cuba, and Venezuela were represented at the Olympics with varying degrees of success.
The United States is deeper than any country in the world at 76 kilograms, but the same can be said about Pan-American countries. Kennedy Blades (USA), Tatiana Rentería (Columbia), and Milaimys Marín (Cuba) won three of four 76 kg medals at the Olympics while Ecuador’s Génesis Reasco was in a medal match. Canada’s Justina Di Stasio finished 12th.