"'Vinesh Phogat has been here since midnight, she's struggling'"- Sarah Hildebrandt opens up on Indian wrestler's disqualification from Paris Olympics

By Janhavi Shinde

Modified Sep 21, 2024 06:59 GMT

A month after undergoing a chaotic situation before winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, Sarah Hildebrandt opened up on her would-be opponent Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat's challenging experience that led to her disqualification. Phogat was handed the dismissal after failing to meet the stipulated weight limit.

Despite her intense efforts throughout the night, Phogat weighed 100 grams over the limit in the 50kg category. She defeated Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman with a decisive lead of 5-0 in the semifinal round while Hildebrandt overpowered Mongolia's Dolgorjavyn Otgonjargal with 5-0.

During an interview with Justin Basch, the American wrestler set to face Phogat in the final revealed the events that transpired in Paris. After experiencing uneasiness in her knee, the American wrestler headed to the gym where she saw Phogat struggling to cut the weight since midnight before the gold-medal match.

"Vinesh is already there she's cutting weight," Hildebrandt said. "My coach is already there too. He's like, 'She's been here since midnight, she's struggling,' so like immediately in my head I'm like dang, she's going through it. I actually end up leaving because I don't want her to see that I have a bum knee. I'm like, okay, change of plans." [at 10:44]

Later, when Sarah Hildebrandt arrived at the weigh-ins at 8 am, she noticed Vinesh Phogat's absence and headed out for breakfast. She then received a call informing her that Phogat had missed the weigh-in, which resulted in her becoming the Olympic champion.

"I see that she's kind of having a hard time of it. I end up leaving, I go to weigh-ins she's still not there," she added. "I go cafeteria and get breakfast. I got a call, 'She missed weigh-in, you're Olympic champion.'"

However, after receiving the call about her gold medal victory following Phogat's disqualification, Hildebrandt refrained from celebrating and waited for confirmation.

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Sarah Hildebrandt underwent a series of chaotic events before claiming the gold medal at the Paris Olympics

Sarah Hildebrandt, victorious on the podium during the medal ceremony at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Photo via Getty Images)

Sarah Hildebrandt's instincts were correct, as she later received a call from Terry Steiner informing her she would have to face Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman.

Hildebrandt said in her interview with Justin Basch:

"An hour and a half after that initial call, Terry Steiner calls me and he's like, 'Bring your shoes, tonight you're wrestling Cuba,' and I'm like, bro thank God I didn't pop bottles of champagne." [at 13:25]

Hildebrandt defeated the Cuban wrestler 3-0 to claim her second Olympic medal.