Who is Sarah Hildebrandt facing in the gold medal match at Paris Olympics? Everything to know about India's Vinesh Phogat

By Agnijeeta Majumder

Modified Aug 06, 2024 19:54 GMT

Sarah Hildebrandt, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist in 50 kgs wrestling category, will face the Indian standout wrestler Vinesh Phogat in the final round on August 7 at the Paris Olympics 2024. Hildebrandt won four medals in the World Wrestling Championships and seven golds in the Pan American Championships.

Sarah Hildebrandt, 30, competed at the 2020 Pan American Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament and her performance earned her a quota for the United States. Early in 2021, the four-time World medalist competed at the 2021 Team Trials and secured a spot on the Tokyo Olympics roster. In the match-up for the bronze podium, Hildebrandt defeated Oksana Livach of Ukraine for her maiden Olympic medal.

At the 2023 World Wrestling Championships, the 30-year-old finished with the bronze in the 50 kgs, which also earned her an Olympic qualification in Paris. In the semi-finals, Sarah Hildebrandt outpaced Mongolian wrestler Dolgorjavyn Otgonjargal to qualify for the finals, where she will face two-time World medalist Vinesh Phogat.

Who is Vinesh Phogat? All about the final rival of Sarah Hildebrandt in Paris

Vinesh Phogat, 29, was the first Indian woman to secure gold at the Commonwealth and Asian Games and earn a nomination for the 2019 Laureus World Sports Awards. Her impressive resume also includes eight Asian Championship medals and two Asian Games medals. Phogat, hailing from the popular wrestling family of Haryana, became the first female Indian wrestler to earn an Olympic qualification.

Not only that, her stellar bouts across the Games qualified her for the 50 kg finals match-up, en route to a historical gold for India. In Round 16, she faced the four-time world champion and reigning champion, Yui Susaki of Japan, and defeated her in 3-2 with an attack in the dying seconds. The loss was Susaki's first loss in an international event after winning all her 82 bouts.

The monumental win of Vinesh Phogat scheduled her for a face-off against Ukraine's Oksana Livach in the quarterfinals. Phogat emerged victorious and moved on to repeat the same in the semi-finals against Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman. She won the bout 5-0 and reignited hopes in Indian fans, who are eagerly awaiting a gold in Paris.

In the finals on August 7, she will face her US rival Sarah Hildebrandt, who has also battled past her rivals in all the previous rounds. This was Phogat's third shot at the Olympics, and her gold will be the first in the Olympic wrestling history. Sushil Kumar is currently the most successful India wrestler with a silver and a bronze to his name.

Vinesh Phogat's family and hometown

Vinesh Phogat hails from the village of Chakri Dadri in Haryana. Her father, Rajpal Phogat, is also a notable wrestler in India. Her cousins, Geeta and Babita, are renowned wrestlers as well, with both boasting Commonwealth gold medal wins.

Vinesh Phogat's education

Vinesh Phogat is a University graduate, having studied at the Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak.