AFP, RIO DE JANEIRO: American Helen Maroulis denied Saori Yoshida a fourth straight Olympic wrestling gold with a stunning upset of the Japanese great in the 53kg final at Rio de Janeiro on Thursday.
Maroulis, a reigning world champion competing in her first Olympics, made the United States' first-ever women's wrestling gold one to remember with her victory over the 13-time world champion, calling it "an honor" just to meet Yoshida on the mat. “I've been dreaming about wrestling Saori for so long," Maroulis said. "She's a hero. he's the most decorated wrestler in the sport. It's such an honor to wrestle her.”
Maroulis said she didn't "waste time" comparing her own credentials to Yoshida's.
“I just knew that all the girls here today worked really hard to get here. They made all the sacrifices and anyone can win it. That's what I told myself.
“I just didn't want to look at Goliath and get scared.”
Yoshida led 1-0 after the first period, but the American produced two takedowns in the second to earn a 4-1 victory on points.
Bronze went to Azerbaijan's Natalya Sinishin and Sovia Magdalena Mattson of Sweden.