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What does Russian wrestling's absence from Paris Olympics 2024 mean for Team USA? A look at country's increased medal-winning chances
The Russian Wrestling team has decided to completely boycott the Paris Olympics 2024 following the International Olympic Committee’s decision that demanded the wrestlers to compete under neutral flags. It could prove to be a significant reduction in competition for other nations including Team USA, as Russia had won three gold medals out of the six in the men's freestyle category at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Russia's Abdulrashid Sadulaev defeated USA's Kyle Snyder for the gold medal in the 97 Kg category at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. With Sadulaev out of competition, the American has a real shot at converting his silver into gold. Though he still has to face tough competition with several other top wrestlers in contention, Snyder would have significantly higher chances to win gold this time.
Kyle Dake is another American wrestler whose chances of winning the gold have increased after Russian wrestling’s snub from the Paris Olympics 2024. He won the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics while Russia’s Zaurbek Sidakov won the gold in the 74 kg category.
Dake has four world titles to his name in the 74 Kg and 79 Kg category, all of which came in consecutive years from 2018 to 2022. Although he had to settle for silver at the 2023 World Championships, guess who won the gold? Russia's Zaurbek Sidakov. The American showed impressive form at the U.S. Wrestling Olympic Team Trials beating some big and young names in the country. With Sidakov out of the race, his journey to the Olympic gold has become significantly easier.
In the other categories, the journey to gold for American wrestlers also becomes easier with Russian wrestling’s absence from the Paris Olympics. While Helen Maroulis will be the favorite for her second gold in the women's freestyle 57 Kg, 4x NCAA champion Aaron Brooks will have a chance to do something special in his maiden Olympic Games.
Comparing Russian Wrestling and American Wrestling team's performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
The Russian Wrestling team won a total of eight medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. They managed three gold medals in the men's freestyle categories and one in Greco-roman’s 97 kg. Four bronze medals came in Greco-roman 130 Kg and 60 Kg and men's 86 Kg and 65 Kg categories.
The USA Wrestling team secured nine medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, three of which were gold. America’s gold medals came in the women's 68 Kg, men's 125 Kg, and 86 Kg by Tamyra Mensah-Stock, Gable Stevenson, and David Taylor, respectively.
The nation won only two silver medals, one by Adeline Gray in women's 76 Kg and another by Kyle Snyder in men's 97 Kg. Thomas Gilman, Kyle Dake, Sarah Hildebrandt, and Helen Maroulis comprised four bronze medals.
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