Sanderson wins gold medal while Abas and Kelly win silver medals at Olympic freestyle wrestling competition; Williams and Cormier remain in medal contention
8/29/2004
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Cael Sanderson (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) won the gold medal at 84 kg/185 lbs in men’s freestyle wrestling at the Ano Liossia Olympic Hall in Athens, Greece, Saturday, August 28.
Claiming a silver medal after losses in the finals were Stephen Abas (Fresno, Calif. /Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Jamill Kelly (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Sanderson, a 2003 World silver medalist, defeated 2000 Olympic silver medalist Moon Eui Jae of Korea in the finals by a 3-1 margin.
There was no scoring in the first period, although Sanderson pressed the action and Moon was hit with two passivity calls. In the clinch to start the second period, Sanderson released his lock in the first seven seconds, giving a point to Moon and trailed 1-0. With a minute and a half left in the period, Sanderson hit a leg attack for a takedown in which there was a scramble situation. Officials reviewed the videotape and awarded Sanderson two points, indicating that he achieved exposure during the action. With 54 seconds left in the match, Sanderson completed a leg attack takedown for a 3-0 lead, which held until time ran out.
Sanderson becomes the first U.S. wrestler to win a gold medal in wrestling during the Athens Olympic Games. The United States has now won six medals (one gold, three silvers, two bronzes). This includes three in men’s freestyle, two in women’s freestyle and one in men’s Greco-Roman. There is one day of competition remaining in wrestling, and the U.S. has a chance to add to this medal count on Sunday.
Sanderson defined perfection in college, going 159-0 and winning four NCAA titles at Iowa State, then winning a World silver medal in 2003 in freestyle wrestling. He is originally from Heber City, Utah.
Abas was defeated by Russia’s Mavlet Batirov in the gold-medal finals, 9-1. Batirov opened the scoring with a two-point counter crotch lift for a 2-0 lead just 40 seconds into the bout. He added a single leg takedown for a 3-0 lead. Abas scored his lone point on a fleeing the mat call late in the first period to make it 3-1.
Batirov owned the second period, adding another two-point counter tilt for a 5-1 lead early in the second period. The Russian athlete added two more takedowns and a one-point gut wrench turn for his final three points and a 9-1 decision.
In 2003, in the World Championships in New York City, Abas had defeated Batirov by a 4-2 margin in the pool competition.
Kelly lost in the finals to three-time World champion Elbrus Tedeyev of Ukraine in the gold-medal finals, 5-1.
Tedeyev scored first on a single leg takedown at the 50 second mark of the first period. He added a pair of two-point ankle lace turns within the next minute for a 5-0 lead midway through the period. The only other point scored was a double leg takedown for one point by Kelly with 35 seconds left in the match.
Three U.S. wrestlers completed their pool competition in their divisions during the evening session, and two of them advanced to the Sunday’s action still in medal contention.
Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) won his pool competion at 74 kg/163 lbs., defeating 2002 World champion Mehdi Hajizadeh Joybari, 3-0 in the evening session.
Williams led after the first period, 1-0, with a spin behind takedown midway through the period. In the second period, neither athlete could score until there were 20 seconds left in the match. There was a scramble off of a takedown attack by Williams, which ended with him on the top. After viewing the video tape, officials awarded Williams two points, giving him the 3-0 victory.
Williams advances to Sunday’s quarterfinal round, where he will face Gennadiy Laliev of Kazakhstan.
Daniel Cormier (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) won his pool at 96 kg/211.5 lbs., after defeating Bartolomej Bartnicki of Poland, 10-1. Cormier opened the scoring quickly, getting a three-point throw then a gut wrench turn for a quick 5-0 lead in 48 seconds. In the second period, Bartnicki scored a takedown to make the score 5-1. Cormier added a one-point takedown, then a three-point takedown to exposure to take an 8-1 lead. Two more takedowns ended the match at 10-1.
Because Cormier is in the bottom pool (Pool 7), he advances directly into the semifinals. His opponent will be determined in a quarterfinal match on Sunday morning between Khajimurad Gatsalov of Russia and Aleksandr Shemarov (Belarus). The lowest that Cormier could place now is fourth in the weight class.
Eric Guerrero (Stillwater, Okla/Gator WC) was eliminated with his second loss at 60 kg/132 lbs. He fell 3-1 in overtime to David Pogosian of Georgia. Pogosian scored a takedown in the first period for a 1-0 lead. Guererro tied it at 1-1 early in the second period with a takedown. Pogosian took a 2-1 lead with a takedown with just eight seconds left in regulation. In the overtime clinch, Guerrero unlocked his hands attempting to score a takedown, and the winning third point was awarded to Pogosian
For the entire freestyle tournament so far, the United States has an impressive 17-5 record.
Medal match results from Saturday, August 28 at 5:30 p.m. session
55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold – Mavlet Batirov (Russia) dec. Stephen Abas (USA), 9-1
Bronze -Chihara Tanabe (Japan) dec. Amiran Karntanov (Greece), 7-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs
Gold – Elbrus Tedeyev (Ukraine) dec. Jamill Kelly (USA), 5-1
Bronze - Makhach Murtazaliev (Russia) won by ref. dec. over Leonid Spiridonov (Kazakhstan), 2-1, ot, 9:00
84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold – Cael Sanderson (USA) dec. Moon Eui Jae (Korea), 3-1
Bronze - Sajid Sajidov (Russia) dec. Yoel Romero (Cuba), 5-3
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Gold – Artur Taymazov (Uzbekistan) dec. Ali Reza Rezaei (Iran), 4-0
Bronze - Aydin Polatci (Turkey) vs. Marid Mutalimov (Kazakhstan), 3-1, ot, 6:12
U.S bouts from the 5:30 p.m. session on Saturday, August 28
55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold medal finals – Mavlet Batirov (Russia) dec. Stephen Abas (USA), 9-1
60 kg/132 lbs.
David Pogosian (Georgia) dec. Eric Guerrero (USA), 3-1, ot, 6:21
66 kg/145.5 lbs
Gold medal finals – Elbrus Tedeyev (Ukraine) dec. Jamill Kelly (USA), 5-1
74 kg/163 lbs.
Joe Williams (USA) dec. Mehdi Hajizadeh Joybari (Iran), 3-0
84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold medal finals – Cael Sanderson (USA) dec. Moon Eui Jae (Korea), 3-1
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Daniel Cormier (USA) dec. Bartolomej Bartnicki (Poland), 10-1
U.S. matches on Sunday, August 28 in the morning session
74 kg/163 lbs.
Quarterfinals - Joe Williams (USA) vs. Gennadiy Laliev (Kazakhstan)*
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Semifinals – Daniel Cormier (USA) vs. quarterfinal winner (Khajimurad Gatsalov of Russia vs. Aleksandr Shemarov (Belarus)
*If Williams wins, he will compete in a semifinal match. If he loses, he may compete in a match for fifth and sixth place.
