Full Day 1 Olympic Recap
Aug 14, 2016
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The first six Olympic medals have been handed out, and what a first day it was. Roman Vlasov (RUS) repeated his Olympic gold medal performance from four years ago, and joined Ismael Borrero Molina (CUB) as defending their world titles from last September.
In what was widely considered the deepest weight in the world, Vlasov once again stood on top of the podium at the end of the day. It was far more controversial than his rampage through Vegas, though.
His first round bout with Kim Hyeon-woo (KOR) nearly ended in a loss when Vlasov was thrown near the end of the match, but it was ultimately ruled a two point exposure. Hyeon-woo would go on to get bronze.
In the semis, Vlasov was on his back and choked unconscious by Bozo Starcevic (CRO), only to see the ref stop the match. Vlasov would hold on to win, but Starcevic had an incredible tournament. The Croatian beat a three-time world champ and a two-time bronze medalist, and then had very close matches with Olympic champs Vlasov and Hyeon-woo.
The Russian won his gold medal final on a back arch, but still had to endure two defensive efforts in par terre in the second period against Mark Madsen (DEN). Iran’s 2011 world champ Saeid Abdvali won the other bronze at 75kg.
Borrero Molina silenced the doubters and proved that he is in fact the most consistent 59kg wrestler in the world. While not quite as dominant as his Vegas performance, he only gave up four points and won by tech in both the quarters and finals.
Opposite Borrero Molina in the finals was the upstart Shinobu Ota (JPN). En route to the finals, Ota knocked off both the 55kg gold and silver medalists from London, as well as three-time world medalist Alma Kebispayev (KAZ).
But Ota’s dream run ended at the hands of the strongest man in the division. He was put down late in the first and got lifted for a side arch that Borrero Molina transitioned right into a gut wrench to go up 6-0. The Cuban finished off the match with an arm drag to the mat for a clinching takedown.
In the 59kg bronze medal match, Stig Andre Berge (NOR) fought through and won a tight 1-1 criteria match with two-time Olympic silver medalist Rovshan Bayramov. The other bronze was a barnburner between two of the best from the Asian region. Elmurat Tasmuradov (KAZ) came out on top 13-8 over Arsen Earlier (KGZ) to win his first Olympic medal and third bronze in four years.
