Olympics

Japan's Wrestling Prowess on Display on the Final Day of the Paris Olympics

Yuka Kagami and Kotaro Kiyooka won gold medals in the women's and men's 76-kilogram and 65-kg freestyle wrestling divisions as competition wrapped up.

Published

1 month ago

August 11, 2024

Jim Armstrong

Japan's Yuka Kagami (left) and Kennedy Blades of the United States clash in the women's freestyle wrestling 76-kilogram division final during the Paris Olympics on August 11, 2024, at the Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris. (©Eugene Hoshioko/AP)

Japan wrapped up the wrestling competition at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, August 11 with a pair of gold medals, bringing its total haul to eight and finishing on top of the medals table for the sport.

Yuka Kagami beat American Kennedy Blades 3-1 in the final match, the women's 76-kilogram freestyle category.

After being tied 1-1 in the first period, Kagami scored two more points by grabbing the leg of her opponent and making her step out at the Champ-de-Mars Arena.

It was the fourth wrestling medal of the Paris Games for Japanese women, tying their record set in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and equaled in Tokyo three years ago.

"I just tried to enjoy every match," said Kagami. "Of course there were nerves but that was part of the excitement. It's been such a great Olympics."

In an earlier bout, Kotaro Kiyooka outpointed Rahman Amouzadkhalili of Iran 10-3 to win the men's 65-kg freestyle wrestling gold.

Amouzadkhalili, the 2022 world champion, scored the first point by making Kiyooka step out.

Kiyooka scored a takedown and then secured control of Amouzadkhalili's legs to go up 10-1. The Iranian clawed back two points with a takedown after the break but could not erase the deficit.

Motoki Captures Women's 62-Kg Division Gold

On Saturday, Sakura Motoki won the gold medal in the women's 62-kg category.

Motoki beat Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Iryna Koliadenko of Ukraine 12-1 to clinch the title in her first Olympics.

In doing so, Motoki extended the Japanese women's title streak in the weight class that goes all the way back to the inaugural women's wrestling tournament at the 2004 Games in Athens.

"I was able to overcome my obstacles with the support of many people to get the gold medal," Motoki said, according to Kyodo News.

Down a point in the first period, Motoki grabbed Koliadenko's leg and rolled her on to the mat to take a 4-1 lead. She then secured eight unanswered points in the second period.

Takatani Settles for Silver in Men's Welterweight Division

On the men's side, Daichi Takatani missed a chance to add to Japan's gold rush when he was defeated by Razambek Jamalov of Uzbekistan in the men's 74-kg freestyle final.

Jamolov defeated Takatani 5-0 to give Uzbekistan its first gold medal.

The 29-year-old Takatani was bidding to become the first Japanese man to claim the title in the welterweight division since Jiichiro Date did so at the 1976 Montreal Games.

A Resounding Success for Team Japan

Japan wrapped up the wrestling competition with eight golds, one silver and two bronze for a total of 11. Iran was second on the medals table with two gold, four silver and two bronze.

Author: Jim Armstrong

The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for over 25 years. You can find his articles on SportsLook.