Olympics

Nao Kusaka Gives Japan a 2nd Gold in Greco-Roman Wrestling

Kusaka trailed 2-0 after the first period in the 77-kg class wrestling final, but he came on strong in the second by scoring five straight points for the win.

Published

1 month ago

August 8, 2024

Jack Gallagher

Japan's Nao Kusaka (top) and Kazakhstan's Demeu Zhadrayev compete in the men's Greco-Roman wrestling 77-kilogram division final at the Champ-de-Mars Arena during the 2024 Paris Olympics on August 7 in Paris. (©Eugene Hoshiko/AP)

Japan's Nao Kusaka won the gold medal in the Greco-Roman wrestling men's 77-kilogram class on Wednesday, August 7 with a dramatic 5-2 victory over Kazakhstan's Demeu Zhadrayev in the final at the Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris.

The 23-year-old Kusaka trailed 2-0 after the first period, but came on strong in the second by scoring five straight points for the win. Kusaka's gold medal came one day after compatriot Kenichiro Fumita took gold at 60 kg.

Kusaka had advanced to the final after a 3-1 triumph over Armenia's Malkhas Amoyan in the semifinal on Tuesday, August 6.

"It feels like I'm in a dream," Kusaka was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.

He called it "a most enjoyable six minutes."

Added Kusaka, "My life has changed. I have come through lots of tough moments since I was little all for this and I'm happy to have won. My aspiration toward the Olympics has been my biggest motivation."

Kusaka, a native of Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, was the bronze medalist in the 77-kg category at the world championships in 2023.

Wrestling Star Susaki Earns Bronze

In other wrestling action, Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Yui Susaki bounced back from her shocking defeat to India's Vinesh Phogat on Tuesday, August 6 to grab the freestyle 50-kg bronze medal with a win on Wednesday over Ukraine's Oksana Livach.

In an unusual twist, Phogat could not make weight for the final, so Susaki's repechage match with Livach was upgraded to a bronze-medal contest, which Susaki won 10-0 by technical superiority.

"People around me gave me a supportive push and got me back on my feet (after the defeat)," Susaki commented. "I will give my all for the next four years so they can see me become the Olympic champion again."

Fujinami Advances to Gold-Medal Match

Meanwhile, Akari Fujinami advanced to the final in the women's freestyle 53-kg category with a 10-0 technical superiority win over China's Qianyu Pang on Wednesday. Fujinami will take on Ecuador's Lucia Guzman for the gold on Thursday.

Author: Jack Gallagher

The author is a veteran sports journalist and one of the world's foremost figure skating experts. Find articles and podcasts by Jack on his author page, and find him on X (formerly Twitter) @sportsjapan.