#WrestleMorelia

USA Recalama Ocho Titulos del Estilo Libre Femenino en #WrestleMorelia

By Taylor Miller

MORELIA, Mexico – Los Estados Unidos obtuvo su segundo título de equipo del fin de semana con una actuación de ocho oros el sábado en el Campeonato Panamericano de Cadetes en Morelia, México.

Ganando títulos por USA fueron Virginia FOARD en 40 kg, Lizette RODRIGUEZ en 43 kg, Samara CHAVEZ en 49 kg, Melanie MENDOZA en 53 kg, Skye REALIN en 57 kg, Mia MACALUSO en 61 kg, Tiffani BAUBLITZ en 69 kg and Tristan KELLY en 73 kg.

Macaluso, quien clamó una medalla de bronce en el Campeonato Panamericano Juvenil, recibió la bota de oro por ser la luchadora más destacada del torneo. Ganó cuatro de sus cinco combates con puesta de espalda. La otra victoria fue de superioridad técnica.

Adriana HERNANDEZ SANCHEZ (MEX) ganó el título en 46 kg y Nicoll PARRADO OSORIO (COL) fue el campeón en 65 kg.

Como un equipo, Canadá termino en segundo lugar con 147 puntos, y México fue tercer con 137 puntos.

Team scores
1. USA - 220
2. Canada - 147
3. Mexico -137
4. Peru - 76
5. Ecuador - 67
T6. Brazil - 36
T6. Panama - 36
8. Colombia - 35
9. Chile - 20
10. Puerto Rico - 15

Final results
40 kg
GOLD – Virginia FOARD (USA)
SILVER - Ruth FRANCO BAJANA (ECU)

43 kg
GOLD – Lizette RODRIGUEZ (USA)
SILVER - Jeyla HERRERA VILLEGAS (ECU)
BRONZE - Samaris FUENTES HUICAB (MEX)

46 kg
GOLD - Adriana HERNANDEZ SANCHEZ (MEX)
SILVER – Nyla VALENCIA (USA)
BRONZE - Serena DI BENEDETTO (CAN)

49 kg
GOLD – Samara CHAVEZ (USA)
SILVER – Samantha ADAMZ (CAN)
BRONZE - Shanitzia MERCADO ORTIZ (PUR)
BRONZE - Gloria ASCA VILCAPOMA (PER)

53 kg
GOLD – Melanie MENDOZA (USA)
SILVER - Grecia BERNAL BETANCOURT (MEX)
BRONZE - Selena ROJAS ASTORAY (PER)

57 kg
GOLD – Skye REALIN (USA)
SILVER - Antonia VALDEZ ARRIAGADA (CHI)
BRONZE - Diana ARSAGOVA (CAN)

61 kg
GOLD – Mia MACALUSO (USA)
SILVER - Makitha BRISTOL (CAN)
BRONZE - Wendy CAICEDO NAZARENO (ECU)

65 kg
GOLD - Nicoll PARRADO OSORIO (COL)
SILVER - Sandra ESCAMILLA MENCHACA (MEX)
BRONZE - Nyla BURGESS (CAN)

69 kg
GOLD – Tiffani BAUBLITZ (USA)
SILVER - Vianne ROULEAU (CAN)
BRONZE - Ximena SUAREZ RODRIGUEZ (MEX)

73 kg
GOLD – Tristan KELLY (USA)
SILVER - Kaylee WELSH (CAN)
BRONZE - Erinn VALDEZ ENRIQUEZ (MEX)

#GrecoRoman

'Thank you, wrestling': Tokyo Olympic medalist Elsayed, 27, retires

By Vinay Siwach

EGYPT (July 14) -- Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) has announced his retirement from wrestling, concluding a distinguished career that included two Olympic appearances and two world U23 gold medals.

Elsayed posted on Instagram about his struggles with injuries and shared that the decision to retire was the "most difficult" for the 27-year-old wrestler.

"After many years of hard work, challenges, and victories [and] after I honored my country and raised its flag in internationally, and was able to achieve my dream and win an Olympic medal in Greco-Roman wrestling, I have reached the most difficult decision in my sports career.  I have decided to officially announce my retirement," Elsayed wrote in an emotional post.

Having won five gold medals at the African Championships, Elsayed was a trailblazer in Greco-Roman and was Egypt's new-found hope for the Olympics. He did not disappoint in Tokyo, where he had a surprising run to the semifinal, which he lost to Parviz NASIBOV (UKR), 7-6.

He bounced back in the bronze-medal bout and defeated Artem SURKOV (ROC), 1-1 to capture bronze, Egypt's first medal since 2012 London Olympics and only the third since 1960.

"Wrestling has always been more than just a sport to me," he wrote. "It was my life, my passion, and my support in the most difficult times. I thank God for every moment I lived on the mat and every moment of pride, and every encouragement I heard from my family, fans, and country."

One of the biggest achievements of Elsayed, apart from the Olympic medal, was winning successive world U23 gold medals in 2018 and 2019 at 67kg.

Elsayed expressed gratitude to various individuals who supported him throughout the journey including coaches and trainers. He also thanked wrestling.

"I thank every coach who helped me, every colleague who stood by me, and everyone who supported me with a kind word or a prayer from the heart. Thank you to everyone who was part of the journey.

"Thank you to wrestling, which taught me to be a man before being a champion."