Atli cuts down, rises to the top in Alexandria

Sunday, February 26, 2023 - 21:44 By Vinay Siwach

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (February 26) -- Suleyman ATLI's (TUR) 2022 was rather lackluster as he failed to win a gold medal in three competitions and finished eighth at the World Championships. But as the year was ending, Atli sent a strong message through his social media, "no worries. I am doing my best to make 2023 my year. Stay tuned."

Atli took the first step in that direction on Sunday by winning the first gold medal of the year at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series event in Alexandria, Egypt.

Atli, who spent last year at 61kg, made the move back to 57kg, a weight in which he competed at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics. While he looked wanting last year, Atli's physical capacity and athleticism looked better than ever Sunday, enabling him to dominate his opponents.

In the gold medal bout, he faced a familiar foe in Andrii YATSENKO (UKR), a former two-time U17 world champion, and both put on a show. Atli scraped through to win 12-11 in a final which tested him both technically and physically.

Suleyman ATLI (TUR) outscored his opponents 40-3 before the final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Before the final, Atli outscored his opponents 40-3 with a semifinal win over Nicholas SURIANO (USA) with smart tactics of keeping his energy conserved to outperform Suriano.

The former European champion coming down to 57kg also means that he is slightly bigger for this weight. Though it gives him the advantage of strength over his opponents, it also exposes the limitation of a wrestler when it comes to wrestling at the same pace for six minutes.

Like his semifinal, Atli took a smart approach conserving his energy in the first period of the final against Yatsenko and going for smart shots in the second. Hence, the score at the break read 1-0 for Yatsenko.

He came out firing in the second period, scoring ten points in the opening 55 seconds using a deep double, then gave up two from a crotch lift when trying to pick up an exposure. The two broke containment when Atli shot back in on another double leg, scoring a takedown before transitioning into a pair of ankle laces. After being down 1-0 in the opening period, Atli led 10-3 one minute into the second.

Yatsenko stormed back with a vengeance, quickly adding eight points from a takedown and three exposures, cutting Atli’s lead to 12-11. But it wasn’t enough to win, as the Turk bellied down in the final 10 seconds to hold Yatsenko’s comeback hopes.

Suleyman ATLI (TUR) raises Andrii YATSENKO's (UKR) hand after winning the 57kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Atli congratulated Yatsenko on a great final and as a sign of a good show of sportsmanship, the Turk raised his Ukrainian opponent's hand as if signifying support for Ukraine even as his country recovers from the devasting earthquakes which occurred three weeks ago.

After the final, Atli posted an emotional message to lift the spirits of his countrymen in these testing times.

"I started the 2023 season with a gold," Atli wrote and added, "I will do my best to continue with gold. It is so important for me and on the other hand, my joy of winning the championships was bad because of the earthquakes in our country. I hope I made you happy and smile. My only wish is that we will get over this disaster together as soon as possible."

On Saturday, world champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) also won the gold but wore a black-colored tracksuit instead of Turkiye's traditional red for the medal ceremony.

"In these days when we were in mourning and low morale as a country, I was fortunate to win a gold medal in an important tournament in Alexandria, Egypt," Akgul wrote. "I went out with a black tracksuit on purpose because our sadness has not passed and our hearts are still with them [earthquake victims]. May the gold medal I won be a gift to all our earthquake victims."

The two also received 1500 Swiss Francs for winning gold medals as United World Wrestling awards prize money to all the medal winners of the Ranking Series events from this year. The gold medalists get 1500 Swiss Francs, the silver medalists get 750 Swiss Francs and the two bronze medalists get 500 Swiss Francs each. The tournaments also allow wrestlers to compete with a two-kilogram weight allowance.

Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) scores using a gut wrench against Joseph MCKENNA (USA) in the 65kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In other gold medal bouts of the evening, Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) defeated Joseph MCKENNA (USA) to win the 65kg gold medal and continue his growth at 65kg in which he also won a U23 world title last year.

In typical Tevanyan style, he kept Mckenna at bay in the first period as both wrestlers began on a slow note. Tevanyan called passive and gave up points as well. But for action points, Tevanyan struck first with a single leg to lead 2-1. He added another as he passed McKenna’s left elbow and found his near ankle followed by a gut wrench.

McKenna, trying to find an opening to cut the lead, shot a swing single with his elbows wide, when Tevanyan used an underhook throw-by for a third takedown which was enough to win 8-2.

Tevanyan's ability to dictate terms in a wrestling bout was on display in Alexandria as he waited to hit his counters, defended like his life depends on a single point and used a few big moves one of which was a roll for four in his first bout.

Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) won the 70kg gold medal over Lucas CHITTUM (USA). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Another U23 world champion who won gold in Alexandria was Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), claiming 70kg gold over Lucas CHITTUM (USA) with a 10-0 win.

Like always, Akmataliev was involved in some exciting bouts right from the start. He wrestled Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB) in the opening bout and sneaked past him with a 7-5 win with a late stepout.

He then got 2022 U23 world champion Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO) and it was only the Georgian's conditioning, or rather a lack of it, which let him down as Akmataliev scored a fall after leading 14-7.

Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) thought he could get the better of his compatriot but Akmataliev never allowed the former to dominate and won the semifinal 2-2. He set up a final with Chittum who had defeated AGUDAMU (CHN), Cuneyt BUDAK (TUR) and Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR) to reach the final.

Akmataliev, well recovered from the tough morning session, began the final against Chittum with an arm throw which was stopped by Chittum who only gave up a point step out.

Akmataliev extended his lead to 5-0 using two counter-offensive exposures off of Chittum’s head inside a single leg. He then slipped out of a Chittum underhook and got to a single leg for two additional points. A step out shortly after pushed his lead to 8-0. He ended the match with another single leg, claiming technical superiority.

After the whistle, Akmataliev seemed to be upset with Chittum and added a slap to his back. As both guys got up, they had to be separated by the official, both wagging their fingers at each other. But after his hand was raised, Akmataliev did tone down and shook hands with his American opponent.

Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) tries a double-leg against Zahid VALENCIA (USA) in the 86kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Another American finished with a silver medal as Zahid VALENCIA (USA) fell in the 86kg final after some solid wins in the morning session.

Vasil MYKHAILOV (UKR), a veteran at 79kg, made the move up to 86kg and tasted success in his first tournament with a gold over a strong field in Alexandria.

The World Championships bronze medalist has wrestled at 86kg once before -- at the 2019 Alexander Medved Ranking Series -- but finished 14th. He then shuffled between 74kg and 79kg, and qualified for the Tokyo Olympics but failed to win a medal. For Paris, Mykhailov is switching to 86kg and will take home a lot of confidence along with the gold.

In his first bout, he defeated world medalist Boris MAKOEV (SVK) and with wins over Islyambek ILYASSOV (KAZ) in the quarterfinal and Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO) in the semifinals, Mykhailov showed that he can handle tough bouts. He capped the day with perhaps his biggest win over Valencia.

Mykhailov took the early 4-0 lead with a chest wrap off of Valencia’s double leg but Valencia bounced back and picked up two for the exposure after his misfortunes on the double, then tacked on two step-outs, tying the match 4-4 but Mykhailov holding criteria.

The Ukrainian head-pinched Valencia for two, regaining the outright 6-4 lead but Valencia once again came back to make it 6-6. Mykhailov used a head pinch to score and seal up the win, 8-6.

Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) defeated Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) in the 79kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 79kg, Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) had to survive a late comeback from Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) to win the gold medal.

In the final, Kentchadze used a Greco-esk high-dive double-leg to put Kavousi on his back, nearly picking up the fall. The Iranian bellied out, giving up his left arm to a trapped arm gut wrench and a pair of exposures. Kentchadze raced to an 8-0 lead after the 30-second exchange.

Kavousi brought life back into the final as he foot swept Kentchadze from his feet to his back and cut the deficit to 8-4 after the opening three minutes.

In the second period, Kavousi doubled Kentchadze in front of the Iranian corner, cutting his opponent's lead to 8-6. Kentchadze, however, weathered the storm and used a go-behind off of Kavousi’s single-leg attempt to increase his lead to 10-6. Despite giving up a late step out, the Georgian hung on to win, 10-7.

This was Kentchadze's second tournament at 79kg after the Zagreb Open in which he won the silver medal. The upgrade in Alexandria saw him win 9-6 against Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) in the opening bout, 12-2 over Arman AVAGYAN (ARM) in the quarterfinals and beat Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) 10-5 in the semifinal.

Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) defends a shot from Taras MARKOVYCH (UKR) in the 61kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 61kg, Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) defeated Taras MARKOVYCH (UKR) 9-2 to pocket the gold medal on his Ranking Series debut.

Zhumashbek Uulu had made the day significant for himself well before the final as he defeated U23 world champion Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) 10-0 in the bout. He had lost to the Armenian in the final of the U23 Worlds in Pontevedra, Spain last year.

He followed up that win with a 9-6 win over Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB) and an 18-6 destruction of Yasin REZAEI (IRI) in the semifinal.

In the final, he attacked Markovych relentlessly and was rewarded with two takedowns in the first period and two more in the second. He also scored a point via stepout.

Kollin MOORE (USA) won the 92kg gold, second Ranking Series title in three weeks. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

The gold medal bouts at 74kg and 92kg saw medical forfeits and saw Iakub SHIKHDZHAMALOV (ROU) and Kollin MOORE (USA) winning the gold respectively.

Moore was supposed to face teammate Nathan JACKSON (USA) in the final but the latter pulled out, perhaps because of the bleeding from the head he struggled with throughout the day.

Moore and Jackson looked in great touch on Sunday and deserved to be the finalists. Jackson began his day with a 5-2 win over Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) before handling Pruthviraj PATIL (IND) 10-0. He defeated Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) 8-2.

From the other side of the bracket, Moore reached the final by beating world bronze medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) 12-2, a far more convincing victory than 4-3 in the Zagreb Open final, and Khaled ELMOATAMADAWI (EGY), 11-1. Moore has now won two Ranking Series gold medals in the space of three weeks.

Iakub SHIKHDZHAMALOV (ROU), center, alongwith the other medalists at 74kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 74kg, Vincenzo JOSEPH (USA) forfeited his final bout to give the gold medal to Shikhdzhamalov who now has won two Ranking Series medals. He won a silver at 79kg in Matteo Pellicone last year.

While he did not wrestle in the final, Shikhdzhamalov displayed his skills on the mat which stunned everyone. After winning against Darkhan YESSENGALI (KAZ) in the first bout, Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) in the second and Mohamed ABDELHADY (EGY) in the quarterfinal, he set up a semifinal against Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR).

Demitras had it all figured out and did not let Shikhdzhamalov get near him for four minutes and 30 seconds, leading 3-0. That is when Shikhdzhamalov used his craft and pulled off a scoop to takedown in which he faked Demirtas to cut the lead 3-2.

Shikhdzhamalov still needed at least a point to win and with the clock ticking down, he went for a desperate move. Demirtas was backing away, defending his one-point lead in the final 25 seconds when Shikhdzhamalov launched a duck under to score the match-winning takedown.

The focus will now shift to the continental championships with the first being the U23 European Championships beginning March 13.

The Asian Championships begins April 9 in Astana, Kazakhstan and the European Championships will be held in Zagreb, Croatia from April 17.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD - Suleyman ATLI (TUR) df. Andrii YATSENKO (UKR), 12-11

BRONZE - Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) df. Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM), 4-2
BRONZE - Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ) df. Nicholas SURIANO (USA), 2-1

61kg
GOLD - Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Taras MARKOVYCH (UKR), 9-2

BRONZE - Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Yasin REZAEI (IRI), 10-0
BRONZE - Austin DESANTO (USA) df. Shota PHARTENADZE (GEO), via fall

65kg
GOLD - Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Joseph MC KENNA (USA), 8-2

BRONZE - Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) df. Sebastian RIVERA (PUR), 7-2
BRONZE - Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) df. Edemi BOLKVADZE (GEO), 10-0

70kg
GOLD - Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df. Lucas CHITTUM (USA), 10-0

BRONZE - Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO) df. Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), 6-4
BRONZE - Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR) df. Cuneyt BUDAK (TUR), via fall

74kg
GOLD - Iakub SHIKHDZHAMALOV (ROU) df. Vincenzo JOSEPH (USA), via inj. def.

BRONZE - Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR) df. Semen RADULOV (UKR), 7-2
BRONZE - Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) df. Darkhan YESSENGALI (KAZ), 5-1

79kg
GOLD - Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) df. Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI), 10-7

BRONZE - Chandler MARSTELLER (USA) df. Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ), 2-1
BRONZE - Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) df. Arman AVAGYAN (ARM), 4-2

86kg
GOLD - Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) df. Zahid VALENCIA (USA), 8-6

BRONZE - Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) df. Ethan RAMOS (PUR), 11-8
BRONZE - Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO) df. Boris MAKOEV (SVK), 13-2

92kg
GOLD - Kollin MOORE (USA) df. Nathan JACKSON (USA), via inj. def.

BRONZE - Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) df. Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ), 10-0
BRONZE - Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) df. Khaled ELMOATAMADAWI (EGY), 10-0

#WrestleParis

Paris 2024 Preview: Day 1 -- GR 60kg, 130kg; WW 68kg

Monday, July 22, 2024 - 10:50 By Ken Marantz

PARIS (July 22) -- On the opening day of wrestling at the Paris Olympics on August 5, fans will get a chance to see history possibly in the making. A day later, we could all be witness to a feat that has never been accomplished in the 128-year history of the Olympics -- in any sport.

The already-legendary Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) will attempt to establish an elite group of one as the first-ever athlete to win five gold medals in the same event, when he takes the mat in Greco-Roman 130kg, which will open the Paris program along with Greco 60kg and women's 68kg.

"I am doing something with great focus to be able to show the world that everything you have in mind, and want to achieve, can be achieved," Lopez said. "I know it's in my mind, and I believe the possibility of achieving that result is high."

PARIS 2024 SCHEDULE | PARIS 2024 NEWS

The 41-year-old Lopez will be competing for the first time since he struck gold at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, a victory that put him into the pantheon of four-time champions with fellow wrestler Kaori ICHO (JPN), who joined the group in 2016, sailing's Paul ELVSTROM (DEN), athletics' Al OERTER (USA) and Carl LEWIS (USA), and swimming's Michael PHELPS (USA).

The fellow man-mountain standing in his way in the heaviest weight class is reigning world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI), who was just 10 years old when Lopez won his first gold medal at Beijing 2008. There could hardly be a more poignant changing of the guard should the Iranian prevail.

There will be no shortage of drama in the two other weight classes as well, with fans to see if the Asian dominance shown in Belgrade at Greco 60kg will carry over to Paris, and a "match-of-the-century"-level clash potentially on tap at women's 68kg, although not knowing which round it might occur only adds to the intrigue.

Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), blue, defeated Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) to win the world title at 60kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco 60kg: Asian dominance on the line with Ciobanu as possible spoiler

In Belgrade, the only weight class in which one continent or region swept all of the Paris quotas was Greco 60kg, with Asia taking all five spots behind gold medalist Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ).

Sharshenbekov's successful defense of his world title helped make him the top seed in Paris in his bid to become Kyrgyzstan's first-ever Olympic gold medalist. But rival Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) is primed to avenge a loss in the Belgrade final and gain the gold medal that he missed out on at the Olympics on home soil.

Fumita, a two-time former world champion, set his sights on leaving Paris in triumph from the minute three years ago that he walked off the mat in Tokyo in tears after losing in the Olympic final to Luis ORTA (CUB). A victory would make him Japan's first Greco gold medalist since Atsuji MIYAHARA (JPN) in 1984.

Since Tokyo, Fumita has tried a number of changes of style to varying degrees of success, but believes he now hit on the right game plan -- just do what feels right at the moment.

"In the three years, my approach to wrestling, the way I attack, has changed several times," Fumita said at press conference with the Japanese media in June. "Now, my wrestling style and training really suit me. It might give me more confidence, but more than that, I feel like I have settled down."

Fumita made a name for himself with his arching back suplexes -- earning the nickname in Japan of the "Cat Wrestler" for his flexibility -- but now realizes that not every victory needs a
touch of flamboyance.

"Before Tokyo, my thing was big throws and I wanted everyone to see it," Fumita said. "After Tokyo, where that didn't work, I went to a defensive style. Now, I don't limit myself to anything. I don't think, I have to try a throw, or I have to be defensive. I do what I want to do.

"I had always thought that the appeal of Greco-Roman was throws, but it's not. It's everything. It's also the details of how a match develops. That's what I want everyone to see."

The championship match in Belgrade was among the most exciting in recent memory, with Sharshenbekov coming out on top of an 11-6 decision in which he fought off a continual series of big-throw attempts by Fumita. So lively was the action that neither wrestler received a passivity point, a total rarity these days in Greco.

The two had met once previously, with Fumita winning 4-0 in the final of the 2020 Asian Championships. With Sharshenbekov the top seed and Fumita at No. 4, a potential third career clash between them would come in the semifinals.

Who will fill the other spot in the final? Leading a formidable list of challengers is third seed Victor CIOBANU (MDA), who is looking to become Moldova's first-ever Olympic champion and just its second-ever wrestling medalist.

While past results are not indicative of future performance, Ciobanu holds a 3-0 record over Sharshenbekov in career meetings. The two met most recently twice in 2021, with Ciobanu winning 9-0 in the Tokyo Olympic quarterfinals and 9-3 in the World Championships final.

Fumita has beaten Ciobanu in their two career clashes, both coming in early rounds at the 2019 and 2023 World Championships.

The dark horse in the medal chase could be Se Ung RI (PRK), who like his compatriots, returned to international action last year after a four-year pandemic hiatus. Ri boasts a 5-3 victory over Fumita in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Asian Championships, where he lost in the final to Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), who will also be in Paris.

In his first post-pandemic tournament, Ri lost to Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) in the quarterfinals at the 2023 Asian Games before coming back to take a bronze medal. Sharshenbekov beat Suzuki for
the gold.

Others to watch are European 63kg champion Murad MAMMADOV (AZE), three-time Asian medalist Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) and Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB). The latter does not boast the credentials of his counterparts, but has history on his side -- Cubans have won the last two golds in the lightest weight class.

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Greco 130kg: Lopez aims for history with Mirzazadeh in his path

Lopez has compatriot Oscar PINO (CUB) to thank for making it to the sixth Olympics of his career, despite being out of action for the past three years. It was Pino who qualified Cuba in the weight class by winning a bronze medal in Belgrade, then stepped aside to let Lopez get his shot at history.

Notwithstanding his age, there will certainly be concerns about how honed Lopez's skills will be after not being battle-tested for three years. But you don't win an Olympic gold, much less four, by being unprepared, and Lopez says he will be ready.

"The preparation is done," Lopez says. "I feel in optimal condition and all wrestlers are motivated both in Cuba and internationally. It has been a very important time for me to keep the motivation to get to my sixth Olympic Games and fight for my fifth medal."

Lopez says his training has gone well. "My main training program has been well prepared. I have tried to avoid injuries, the main issue for wrestlers, and will be able to be at the Olympics with motivation, desire and impetus which I always had for the Olympics."

The biggest concern for his opponents is, who will face him first? With his prolonged absence, Lopez accumulated no ranking points and will be unseeded, meaning he could be drawn with anyone, even the top-seeded Mirzazadeh.

Lopez and Mirzazadeh, who also won a world title in 2021, have faced each other only once, with the Cuban scoring an 8-0 victory in the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Olympics en route to the gold.

But should they meet in Paris, he will encounter the 26-year-old Iranian in his prime. Mirzazedeh has not lost since the final of the 2022 World Championships, when he came out on the short side of a 1-1 decision to Riza KAYAALP (TUR). In addition to the 2023 world title, he has back-to-back golds at the Asian Championships in 2023-24.

Kayaalp, who will not be in Paris, is also the last man to have defeated Lopez, but you have to go all the way back to 2015 for that loss, which came in the final at the World Championships. In fact, since his first Olympic triumph in 2008, Lopez has just two losses -- the other was also to Kayaalp, in the 2011 world final.

Is there anyone who can prevent either of these two giants from ending up on the top of the medal podium? They are really in a class of their own, but those with the potential for pulling off a surprise would include 2016 Rio Olympic bronze medalist Sabah SHARIATI (AZE), two-time former world 97kg silver medalist Kiril MILOV (BUL), Cuban-born Tokyo Olympic fifth-place finisher Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) and four-time Asian medalist Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ).

For Lopez, victory will not necessarily go to the most skilled. "[Wrestling is] a sport in which all the gladiators have to work hard and show who truly is the best in the world. I am happy to be able to be at the Olympic Games and to convey to the youth that come after us what a real wrestler is."

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Women's 68kg: Elor, Ozaki launch pincer movement in weight class shifts

World champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) and the other world medalists at women's 68kg might be feeling they are under attack by a pincer movement from both above and below.

The gold medalists in Belgrade in both the non-Olympic weights that sandwich 68kg have qualified for Paris in that division, with 65kg champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) moving up and 72kg titlist Amit ELOR (USA) dropping down.

But these two are not your run-of-the-mill world champions. They represent a new generation of superstars already plush with a long list of accolades, and a possible clash between them is among the most anticipated matches of the Olympics. As neither is seeded, the luck of the draw will decide if and when they meet.

Both Ozaki and Elor have both achieved the "grand slam" of world age-group titles, having triumphed on the U17, U20, U23 and senior levels -- all before their 20th birthdays. An Olympic gold medal by either would make her the second to achieve the "golden grand slam" after Yui SUSAKI (JPN).

Ozaki actually has bumped up two weight classes. It is well-documented how the 21-year-old (Elor is nine months younger) seemed on track for Paris at 62kg after winning the 2022 world title, only to be upended by Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), who secured the ticket by taking the silver medal at the 2023 worlds in Belgrade.

Ozaki gained a "consolation" gold at 65kg in Belgrade, but also saw a new door to Paris open when Ami ISHII (JPN) failed to medal at 68kg. After a long and difficult process, Ozaki ended up earning a place in a playoff in January with Ishii for the 68kg quota in Paris, which she secured with a dramatic last-second victory.

Elor, whose only international loss remains a 3-1 defeat by Honoka NAKAI (JPN) in the semifinals of the 2019 world cadets (U17), secured the Paris ticket for the U.S. at the Pan-American Olympic Qualifier, then defeated Forrest MOLINARI (USA) at the U.S. Trials.

While Ozaki spent the ensuing months trying to bulk up without affecting her trademark speed and agility, Elor has been fighting the battle of the scale that she had avoided since she started wrestling as a young girl.

Amit ELOR (USA) after qualifying the 68kg weight class for the United States. (Photo: United World Wrestling / William Bain)

"Growing up, my parents didn't let me cut weight, and I'm very grateful for that," Elor said at the U.S. Trials. "It was really good for me and my relationship with the sport. I think that is part of the reason why this is a little bit new and difficult for me."

The muscular Elor, who seems to have little body fat to spare, said there were times leading up to the U.S. Trials when she wasn't sure she could continue the quest.

"I know this may be a shocker, but there were times where I was like, 'How am I going to do this? I think my performance is going to go down if I do this,'" she said. "But I already decided on this and when you pick a goal, you have to stick to it, you have to push through those hard moments and I'm really glad I did."

Ozaki says she was inspired as a child by Kyoko HAMAGUCHI (JPN), a five-time world champion who won bronze medals at the then-heaviest weight of 72kg at both the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympics. But it feels odd to her to consider herself now in the upper weights.

"I don't think at all about being in an upper weight," Ozaki said. "I only think about the gold medal and not about whether it will be different in an upper weight. My only thought is that because I am who I am, I can do it."

In her only international foray at 68kg, Ozaki won the gold at the Asian Championships in April in Bishkek. Among her three technical falls was a 10-0 victory over Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL), the runner-up to Tosun at the 2023 worlds who will also be in Paris.

Two of the medalists from the Tokyo Olympics are back, silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) and bronze medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), as well as two former world champions in Linda MORAIS (CAN) and Irina RINGACI (MDA).

If there is a surprise, it could come from veteran Feng ZHOU (CHN), who finished seventh at the Tokyo Olympics. She has had a strong buildup for Paris, winning the 2023 Asian Games gold and defeating Tosun en route to the gold at the Zagreb Open in January.

Atli cuts down, rises to the top in Alexandria

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Paris 2024 Preview: Day 1 -- GR 60kg, 130kg; WW 68kg