#ThrowBackThursday

#TBT​ Slay Stuns Eventual Three-Time Olympic Champ Saitiev

By Eric Olanowski

Brandon SLAY ?? scored one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history after stunning eventual three-time Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion, Buvaisar SAITIEV ??, 4-3, en route to the 76kg gold medal at the ’00 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

Coming into the ’00 Olympic Games, Saitiev was arguably the best freestyle wrestler in the world. He was the defending Olympic gold medalist and a three-time world champion. Saitiev entered the Sydney Games riding a perfect 19-0 combined record in world championship and Olympic action.

#WrestleZagreb

WATCH: Chasing Greco 87kg Gold at World C'ships

By United World Wrestling Press

ZAGREB, Croatia (December 4) -- If there was one weight class in Greco-Roman at the World Championships in Zagreb which was extremely unpredictable, it was 87kg.

Olympic silver medalist Alireza MOHAMDI (IRI) was leading a pack of wrestlers who had medals at the World Championships, both senior and age-group, continental championships and even at the Olympics.

WATCH FULL DOCUMENTARY HERE

Paris bronze medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) was primed to win the gold as well after a good start to the season. Then there was European champion David LOSONCZI (HUN).

Former European champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) was expected to be on the podium. Other names included age-group world champs in Asan ZHANYSOV (KGZ), Exacue MUKUBU (NOR), Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM), Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) and Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) among others.

As the day progressed in Zagreb, a few of those names fell apart and it was Komarov, Mohmadi, Losonczi and Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) who reached the semifinals before Komarov and Mohmadi clashed for the gold medal.

Mohmadi, a silver medalist at 82kg from 2023, was leading the final but Komarov made a solid comeback and clinched the gold medal, 4-3, becoming the second male wrestler to win gold medals at all World Championships.