Maroulis becomes first American women’s wrestler to win Olympic gold
By Gary Abbott
USA Wrestling
RIO de JANIERO, Brazil - It was a historic night for women’s wrestling in the United States, as Helen Maroulis (Huntington Beach, Calif./Sunkist Kids) won the gold medal at 53 kg/116.5 lbs. at the Olympic Games on Thursday afternoon in Carioca 2 Arena.
She became the first American women’s wrestler to win an Olympic gold medal, in the fourth Olympic Games featuring the sport. Not only did she smash the barrier for USA Wrestling, but to do so, she had to beat perhaps the greatest wrestler in the history of women’s wrestling, three-time Olympic champion Saori Yoshida of Japan in the finals. For Maroulis, it was the stuff of dreams.
“I cried,” said Maroulis as she watched the American flag raised and heard the American national anthem in the arena. “It represents our country and it stands for so much, with so much value behind it. Flags are raised for so many different things. This is small, well, it was big for me, but small in comparison to our country. It was a victory, and the anthem was being played, but I also thought about the fact that there are Americans in other countries at war and there are flags there. It is such an honor to be an American. It is such a blessing. When the anthem plays, how could you not cry?”
This was a battle of 2015 World champion, as Maroulis was the World gold medalist at 55 kg/121 lbs., while Yoshida won at 53 kg/116.5 lbs. Yoshida boasted an unbelievable 13 World titles along with her three Olympic gold medals, looking to join her teammate Kaori Icho as a four-time Olympic champion after Icho was the 58 kg/128 lbs. champion on Wednesday night.
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USA Wrestling
RIO de JANIERO, Brazil - It was a historic night for women’s wrestling in the United States, as Helen Maroulis (Huntington Beach, Calif./Sunkist Kids) won the gold medal at 53 kg/116.5 lbs. at the Olympic Games on Thursday afternoon in Carioca 2 Arena.
She became the first American women’s wrestler to win an Olympic gold medal, in the fourth Olympic Games featuring the sport. Not only did she smash the barrier for USA Wrestling, but to do so, she had to beat perhaps the greatest wrestler in the history of women’s wrestling, three-time Olympic champion Saori Yoshida of Japan in the finals. For Maroulis, it was the stuff of dreams.
“I cried,” said Maroulis as she watched the American flag raised and heard the American national anthem in the arena. “It represents our country and it stands for so much, with so much value behind it. Flags are raised for so many different things. This is small, well, it was big for me, but small in comparison to our country. It was a victory, and the anthem was being played, but I also thought about the fact that there are Americans in other countries at war and there are flags there. It is such an honor to be an American. It is such a blessing. When the anthem plays, how could you not cry?”
This was a battle of 2015 World champion, as Maroulis was the World gold medalist at 55 kg/121 lbs., while Yoshida won at 53 kg/116.5 lbs. Yoshida boasted an unbelievable 13 World titles along with her three Olympic gold medals, looking to join her teammate Kaori Icho as a four-time Olympic champion after Icho was the 58 kg/128 lbs. champion on Wednesday night.
Read Full Story
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