According to the schedule released by the organizers of Paris 2024, 290 wrestlers from 63 countries will compete in 18 categories from August 5 to 11 at the Grand Palais Éphémère. Wrestling has been part of the modern Olympic Games since their inception, although there were rumors after the London Olympics that it might be excluded from the Tokyo 2020 Games. However, following changes in the leadership of United World Wrestling, the majority of International Olympic Committee members decided at the 125th IOC Congress at the Hilton Hotel in Buenos Aires to keep wrestling in the Summer Olympic Games.
THE DOMINANCE OF THE AMERICAN TEAM
The United States will have the largest team in Paris, with 16 top-tier wrestlers competing in both freestyle and Greco-Roman categories, posing a significant challenge for other competitors, including the dominant Japanese women’s team.
In the men’s 86 kg freestyle category, where Hassan Yazdani of Iran and Azamat Dauletbekov of Kazakhstan will compete, David Taylor of the USA, the Tokyo Olympic champion and three-time world champion, is the favorite to repeat his victory.
Men’s Freestyle 97kg final at 2020 Tokyo. (Bryan Keane/INPHO/Shutterstock)
In the 74 kg freestyle category, the USA’s Kyle Dake, the Tokyo silver medalist, seems to have an easier path to gold in Paris in the absence of Russia’s Sidakov. However, Khetik Tsabolov should not be overlooked. Daichi Takatani of Japan and Georgios Kougioumtsidis of Georgia will also compete in this weight class.
In the 97 kg category, Kyle Snyder will represent the USA. He will face competition from Akhmed Tazhudinov, a Russian who now competes for Bahrain and holds Asian Games and World Championship gold medals, as well as Magomedkhan Magomedov from Azerbaijan.
In the 125 kg category, Mason Parris faces a tougher challenge compared to Dake and Taylor. Overcoming Geno Petriashvili of Georgia, who has one Olympic silver medal, three world gold medals, and two European gold medals, will not be easy. Additionally, Amir Hussain Zare of Iran is also a strong contender for gold in this weight class.
WOMEN’S FREESTYLE WRESTLING
In women’s freestyle wrestling, Japanese wrestlers have traditionally been dominant. Sarah Hildebrandt will have a tough time against Yui Susaki of Japan, the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion. Another wrestler from Mongolia, who finished second to Susaki at the 2022 and 2023 Belgrade championships, will also compete in this weight class.
In the 53 kg and 57 kg categories, where Japan’s Akari Fujinami and Tsugumi Sakurai are competing, the Americans will face tough competition. In the 57 kg category, the USA has a strong contender in Helen Maroulis, the Rio 2016 gold medalist and Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist. At 32, she remains a strong candidate for a gold medal.
The USA’s Adeline Gray, one of the most decorated wrestlers in the world with six world titles and two Olympic bronze medals, will compete in the 76 kg category. At 33, she aims to secure an Olympic gold medal by overcoming Yuka Kagami of Japan and Aiperi Medet Kyzy of Kazakhstan.
Mijaín López in action. (Matthew Healey/UPI/Shutterstock)
CHALLENGES IN GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLING
In the Greco-Roman category, American wrestlers will face tough competition from stars like Zholaman Sharshenbekov and Akzhol Makhmudov from Kazakhstan, Ali Cengiz from Turkey, Mijaín López and Gabriel Alejandro Rosillo from Cuba, and Amin Mirzazadeh from Iran.
The American team includes Cohlton Schultz in the 130 kg category, Alan Vera in the 97 kg category, Spencer Woods in the 87 kg category, and Kamal Bey in the 77 kg category.
