Preview for the women's freestyle competition, set for China Agricultural University Gymnasium, Aug. 16-17
Gary Abbott August 08, 2008
2008 Olympic Games preview at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. in women's freestyle wrestling
Chiharu Icho of Japan has won the last two World titles at this weight class, but will have a tremendous challenge on her quest to win her first Olympic title. Icho won a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games. Icho is the sister of 2004 Olympic champion Kaori, who competes at 63 kg.
Icho defeated 2004 Olympic champion Irini Merlini of Ukraine in the finals of the 2007 World Championships. Merlini took off the 2006 season and returned with a strong performance in Baku, Azerbaijan last year. Merlini has won three World gold medals, and was second in both the 2005 and 2007 World meets. Many expect that the Olympic Games finals may again be a matchup between Icho and Merlini.
You can't overlook 2005 World champion Xueceng Ren of China, who placed second behind Icho at the 2006 World Championships. Ren moved up to 51 kg for the 2007 World Championships and placed second. Her replacement at this weight last year, Xiaomei Li, won a bronze medal. Ren is back down at 48 kg, and lost in the finals of the 2008 Asian Championships to Icho.
The other Olympic medalist from 2004, Patricia Miranda of the United States, will not be competing at the 2008 Olympics. Veteran Clarissa Chun defeated Miranda in the finals of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and will be seeking an Olympic medal of her own. Chun competed in the 2000 World Championships and was a Pan American Championships gold medalist in 2008.
There are two other talented women wrestlers from the Pan American nations who are expected to battle for an Olympic medal in 2008. Mayelis Caripa of Venezuela was third at the 2007 World Championships and Carol Huynh of Canada placed fifth last year at the World meet. Huynh won a World silver medal in 2001 and a World bronze medal in 2005, and has been fifth in the World the last two years.
Also qualifying for the Olympics by placing in the top eight at last year's World Championships were Maria Stadnyk of Azerbaijan and Sofia Mattsson of Sweden. Mattsson won Junior World titles in both 2006 and 2007. Stadnyk won the gold medal at the 2008 European Championships, defeating Vanessa Boubryemm of France in the finals. Boubryemm qualified for Beijing as the highest placewinner at the Europeans who had not yet qualified.
Russia is very competitive at this weight class. Qualifying Russia for the Olympics by winning one of the Qualification Tournaments was Elza Tazetdinova. Other possible entries for Russia include 2004 Olympian Lorissa Oorzak who is also a past Junior World champion. Other Russians to watch include Lilya Kaskarova of Russia, who was fifth in the 2005 World Championships, and Inga Karamtchakova, who has won three World medals.
Enkhjargal Tsogbazar of Mongolia, who was third at the Asian Championships this year, is among the qualifiers here. She won the Asian Championships in 2006 and the World University Championships in 2006.
Qualified nations at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Australia, Azerbaijan, Canada, China, El Salvador, France, Japan, Korea, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Tunisia, Ukraine, United States, Venezuela
RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS
2007 World Championships results
48 kg/105.5 lbs.- Gold - Chiharu Icho (Japan); Silver - Irini Merleni (Ukraine); Bronze - Xiaomei Li (China); Bronze - Mayelis Caripa (Venezuela); 5th - Carol Huynh (Canada); 5th - Stephanie Murata (United States); 7th - Maria Stadnyk (Azerbaijan); 8th - Sofia Mattsson (Sweden); 9th - Venessa Boubryemm (France); 10th - Brigitte Wagner (Germany)
2006 World Championships results
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Gold - Chiharu Icho (Japan); Silver - Ren Zue Cen (China); Bronze - Iwona Sadowska (Poland); Bronze - Francine DePaola (Italy); 5th - Marina Markevich (Belarus); 5th - Carol Huyhn (Canada); 7th - Nataliya Pulkovska (Ukraine); 8th - Hajar Ashtiani (Finland); 9th - Mary Kelly (USA); 10th - Sunisa Klahan (Thailand)
2005 World Championships results
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Gold - Xueceng Ren (China); Silver - Irini Merleni (Ukraine); Bronze - Carol Huynh (Canada); Bronze - Makiko Sakamoto (Japan); 5th - Mayelis Caripa (Venezuela); 5th - Liliya Kaskarakova (Russia); 7th - Jenny Wong (USA); 8th - Francine DePaola (France); 9th - Sigrun Dobner (Germany); 10th - Zhyldyz Eshimova (Kyrgyzstan)
2004 Olympic Games results
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Gold - Irini Merlini (Ukraine); Silver - Chiharu Icho (Japan); Bronze - Patricia Miranda (USA); 4th- Angelique Berthenet (France); 5th - Lorisa Oorzhak (Russia); 6th- Brigitte Wagner (Germany); 7th - Lidiya Karamchakova (Tajikistan); 8th - Enkhjargal Tsogbazar (Mongolia); 9th - Li Hui (China); 10th - Fani Psatha (Greece)
2008 Olympic Games preview at 55 kg/121 lbs. in women's freestyle wrestling
The top star in women's wrestling, 2004 Olympic champion Saori Yoshida of Japan, enters as a strong favorite to defend her Olympic title. Yoshida has won five World titles and won the Asian Championships again in 2008.
Entering this year, Yoshida had never lost an international match on the Senior level, going back to when she started dominating the sport seven years ago. However, her goal of finishing her career without a loss on the Senior level was ended at the 2008 World Cup, when she dropped a match to Marcie Van Dusen of the United States. Van Dusen, who was 10th at the 2007 World Championships and is a former University World champion, qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team.
2004 Olympic silver medalist Tonya Verbeek of Canada will be seeking another medal, after qualifying by winning the 2008 Pan American Championships by defeating Van Dusen in the finals. Verbeek also won a bronze medal at the 2005 World Championships.
One of the most consistent wrestlers in recent seasons has been Ida-Theres Karlsson of Sweden, who won a World silver medal in 2007 and a World bronze medal in 2006. Another top challenger is Russia's Natalia Golts, who won the 2008 European Championships. Golts has won four World bronze medals in her career, and seeks to reach the finals at the World level for the first time this year.
Other recent World medalists who have qualified for the Olympic Games are 2007 bronze medalist Olga Smirnova of Kazakhstan, 2006 silver medalist Mariyia Yaharova of Belarus and 2005 silver medalist Su Lihui of China. Smirnova placed ninth at the 2004 Olympic Games, competing for Russia.
Xu Li competed for China at the 2007 World Championships and the 2008 Asian Championships, and could be the Chinese entry at this division.
Qualifying their nation to compete at the Olympics with a top-eight placement at the 2007 World Championships were Alena Filipova of Belarus, Tatyana Lazareva of Ukraine, Jacqueline Renteria of Colombia and Yulia Ratkevich of Azerbaijan. Renteria won the 2007 Pan American Games, defeating Van Dusen in the championship match.
Qualified nations at 55 kg/121 lbs. - Azerbaijan, Belarus, Canada, China, Colombia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Tunisia, Ukraine, United States, Venezuela
Qualified nations at 55 kg/121 lbs. - Azerbaijan, Belarus, Canada, China, Colombia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Tunisia, Ukraine, United States, Venezuela
RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS
2007 World Championships results
55 kg/121 lbs. - Gold - Saori Yoshida (Japan); Silver - Ida-Theres Karlsson (Sweden); Bronze - Olga Smirnova (Kazakhstan); Bronze - Natalya Golts (Russia); 5th - Alena Filipova (Belarus); 5th - Tatyana Lazareva (Ukraine); 7th - Jacqueline Renteria (Colombia); 8th - Yulia Ratkevich (Azerbaijan); 9th - Tonya Verbeek (Canada); 10th - Marcie Van Dusen (United States)
2006 World Championships results
55 kg/121 lbs. - Gold - Saori Yoshida (Japan); Silver - Mariyia Yaharova (Belarus); Bronze - Minerva Montero (Spain); Bronze - Ida-Theres Karlsson (Sweden); 5th - Jessica Bechtel (Germany); 5th - Natalia Golts (Russia); 7th - Greeta (India); 8th - Anna Gomis (France); 9th - Naidan Otgonjargal (Mongolia); 10th - Li Song Ni (China)
2005 World Championships results
55 kg/121 lbs. -Gold - Saori Yoshida (Japan); Silver - Su Lihui (China); Bronze - Natalia Golts (Russia); Bronze - Tonya Verbeek (Canada); 5th - Minerva Montero (Spain); 5th - Ludmila Cristea (Moldova); 7th - Ana Maria Paval (Romania); 8th - Jessica Bechtel (Germany); 9th - Sylvia Bilenska (Poland); 10th - Anna Gomis (France)
2004 Olympic Games results
55 kg/121 lbs. - Gold - Saori Yoshida (Japan); Silver - Tonya Verbeek (Canada); Bronze - Anna Gomis (France); 4th - Ida-Theres Karlsson (Sweden); 5th - Sun Dongmei (China); 6th - Tela O'Donnell (USA); 7th - Lee Na Lae (Korea); 8th - Tetyana Lazareva (Ukraine); 9th - Olga Smirnova (Russia); 10th - Diletta Giampiccolo (Italy)
2008 Olympic Games preview at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. in women's freestyle wrestling
For six straight years, Kaori Icho of Japan has won the gold medal at this weight class, including the Olympic title in 2004. Icho has been a model of consistency, always ready for the major events. Icho added an Asian Championships gold medal this year, giving her additional momentum going into the Olympic year.
The battle in recent seasons has been for second place behind Icho. Winning the 2007 World silver medal was Elena Shalygina of Kazakhstan. The 2006 World silver medalist was Xu Hai Yan of China. Capturing second place at the 2005 World Championships was a different Chinese competitor, Rui Xue Jing. Xu was eighth at the World Championships in 2007.
Winning World bronze medals the last two years has been Monika Michalik-Rogien of Poland. The 2008 European champion was Alena Kartashova of Russia, who was a World champion in 2002 and placed eighth at the 2004 Olympic Games. Another potential entry for Russia is Lyubov Volosov, who was fifth in the 2006 World Championships.
2004 Olympic bronze medalist Lise Legrand of France will get a chance for a second Olympic medal after placing fifth at the 2007 World Championships to qualify for the Beijing Games. LeGrand won a bronze medal at 67 kg at the European Championships this year, the weight she has wrestled in recent seasons, but is expected to drop for the Olympics.
Canada will be represented by Martine Dugrenier, who has dropped down from 67 kg, where she has won silver medals at the World Championships the last three seasons. Dugrenier was at 63 kg at the 2008 Pan American Championships, where she won the gold medal.
Carrying the banner for the United States will be Randi Miller, who is competing in her first World-level event. Miller defeated 2004 Olympic silver medalist and three-time World medalist Sara McMann in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Miller has had good results in international events, and is expected to battle for high honors in Beijing.
Qualifying their nation for the Olympics by placing in the top eight at the 2007 World Championships were Yulia Ostapchuk of Ukraine and Olesja Zamula of Azerbaijan. Ostapchuk was a 2007 Junior World champion. Ukraine could be represented by Olga Khilko, who was second in the 2008 European Championships and third in the 2005 World Championships.
Top competitors out of Asia are Elena Shalygina of Kazakhstan, who was a Junior World silver medalist in 2006 and second in the 2007 Asian Championships, as well as Badrakh Odionchimeg of Mongolia, who was third in the 2007 Asian Championships.
Qualified nations at 63 kg/138.75 lbs - Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Egypt, Spain, France, Guam, Hungary, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, United States
RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS
2007 World Championships results
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Gold - Kaori Icho (Japan); Silver - Elena Shalygina (Kazakhstan); Bronze - Sara McMann (United States); Bronze - Monkia Michalik - Rogien (Poland); 5th - Lise Golliot - Legrand (France); 5th - Yulia Ostapchuk (Ukraine); 7th - Olesja Zamula (Azerbaijan); 8th - Haiyan Xu (China); 9th - Nikola Hartmann-Duenser (Austria); 10th - Badrakh Odonchimeg (Mongolia)
2006 World Championships results
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Gold - Kaori Icho (Japan); Silver - Xu Hai Yan (China); Bronze - Monika Rogien (Poland); Bronze - Helena Allandi (Sweden); 5th - Yoselin Rojas (Venezuela); 5th - Lyubov Volosov (Russia); 7th - Karine Shadoyan (Armenia); 8th - Agoro Papavassiliou (Greece); 9th - Mihaela Sadoveanu (Romania); 10th - Volha Khilko (Belarus)
2005 World Championships results
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Gold - Kaori Icho (Japan); Silver - Rui Xue Jing (China); Bronze - Sara McMann (USA); Bronze - Olga Khilko (Ukraine); 5th - Anna Polovneva (Russia); 5th - Katarzyna Juszezak (Italy); 7th - Michaela Krizkova (Czech Republic); 8th - Tara Hedican (Canada); 9th - Monika Szerencse (Hungary); 10th - Helena Allandi (Sweden)
2004 Olympic Games results
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Gold - Kaori Icho (Japan); Silver - Sara McMann (USA); Bronze - Lise Legrand (France); 4th - Stavroula Zygouri (Greece); 5th - Viola Yanik (Canada); 6th - Volha Khilko (Belarus); 7th - Stephanie Gross (Germany); 8th - Alena Kartashova (Russia); 9th - Lili Meng (China); 10th - Sara Eriksson (Sweden)
2008 Olympic Games preview at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. in women's freestyle wrestling
Among the dominant athletes in women's wrestling in recent seasons has been Stanka Zlateva of Bulgaria, who has won the last two World Championship gold medals. Zlateva came into her own two seasons ago with a win over Japan's star Kyoko Hamaguchi in the World finals in 2006, then defeated American star Kristie Marano in the 2007 World finals. Zlateva has continued her impressive wrestling into the new year, winning the gold medal at the 2008 European Championships.
The 2008 Olympics may be the final appearance of Hamaguchi, who won five World gold medals, but missed her goal of winning an Olympic title with her bronze-medal performance at the 2004 Athens Games. Last year, Hamaguchi slipped to ninth in the World Championships. She won the 2008 Asian Championships, a sign that she is wrestling well again. A hero in her native Japan, it would not be surprising if she rises to the occasion with a strong performance at the Beijing Olympics.
Wang Xu of China is the defending Olympic champion, winning her gold medal at the Athens Olympics. She will seek to win her second Olympic medal competing on her home mats in Beijing. She placed fifth at the World Championships last year and has not won a World medal since her Olympic performance.
Russia is loaded at this weight class. 2004 Olympic silver medalist Gouzel Manyurova could return seeking another Olympic medal. Manyurova was second behind Zlateva at the 2008 European Championships. In 2006, Elena Perepelkina won a World bronze for Russia at this weight class. Russia has additional depth at this weight class if they chose another entry.
The United States will be represented by two-time Junior World champion Ali Bernard, who made her first U.S. Senior-level team with an impressive performance during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Staying home for the USA will be two-time World champion Kristie Marano and 2005 World champion Iris Smith, neither who could qualify for the finals at the Olympic Trials. Bernard beat two-time World bronze medalist Katie Downing in the Trials finals, an indication that she can beat top talent under pressure.
Olga Zhanibekova of Kazakhstan had the best performance of her career in 2007, winning a bronze medal at the World Championships. Also qualifying with a top-eight finish at the 2007 World Championships were Maider Unda of Spain, Jenny Fransson of Sweden and Svetlana Sayenko of Ukraine. Sayenko was third in the 2005 World Championships and fourth in the 2004 Olympic Games. Fransson was third in the 2007 Junior World Championships and third in the 2008 European Senior Championships.
A veteran in the field will be Anita Schaetzle of Germany, who was third in the 2008 European Championships and won a bronze medal at the 2005 World Championships. Talented competitors from the Pan American nations are Ohenewa Akuffo of Canada and Rosangela Conceicao of Brazil.
Qualified nations at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Spain, France, Germany, Japan, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Tunisia, Ukraine, United States
RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS
2007 World Championships
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Gold - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria); Silver - Kristie Marano (United States); Bronze - Olga Zhanibekova (Kazakhstan) ; Bronze - Gouzel Manyurova (Russia); 5th - Xu Wang (China) ; 5th - Maider Unda (Spain); 7th - Jenny Fransson (Sweden); 8th - Svetlana Sayenko (Ukraine) ; 9th - Kyoko Hamaguchi (Japan); 10th - Rosangela Conceicao (Brazil)
2006 World Championships results
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Gold - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria); Silver - Kyoko Hamaguchi (Japan); Bronze - Elena Perepelkina (Russia); Bronze - Kristie Marano (United States); 5th - Vasilisa Marzaliuk (Belarus); 5th - Ohenewa Akuffo (Canada); 7th - Svitlana Saenko (Ukraine); 8th - Jenny Fransson (Sweden); 9th - Maria-Louisa Vrioni (Greece); 10th - Wang Jiao (China)
2005 World Championships results
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Gold - Iris Smith (USA); Silver - Kyoko Hamaguchi (Japan); Bronze - Anita Schaetzle (Germany); Bronze - Svetlana Sayenko (Ukraine); 5th - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria); 5th - Jiao Wang (China); 7th - Ohenewa Akuffo (Canada); 8th - Bumaa Orchirbat (Mongolia); 9th - Marina Gastl (Austria); 10th - Olga Zhanibekova (Kazakhstan)
2004 Olympic Games results
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Gold - Wang Xu (China); Silver - Gouzel Maniorova (Russia); Bronze - Kyoko Hamaguchi (Japan); 4th - Svitlana Sayenko (Ukraine); 5th - Christine Nordhagen (Canada); 6th - Anita Schaetzle (Germany); 7th - Toccara Montgomery (USA); 8th - Maria Louiza Vryoni (Greece); 9th - Marina Gastl (Austria); 10th - Burmaa Ochirbat (Mongolia)
Chiharu Icho of Japan has won the last two World titles at this weight class, but will have a tremendous challenge on her quest to win her first Olympic title. Icho won a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games. Icho is the sister of 2004 Olympic champion Kaori, who competes at 63 kg.
Icho defeated 2004 Olympic champion Irini Merlini of Ukraine in the finals of the 2007 World Championships. Merlini took off the 2006 season and returned with a strong performance in Baku, Azerbaijan last year. Merlini has won three World gold medals, and was second in both the 2005 and 2007 World meets. Many expect that the Olympic Games finals may again be a matchup between Icho and Merlini.
You can't overlook 2005 World champion Xueceng Ren of China, who placed second behind Icho at the 2006 World Championships. Ren moved up to 51 kg for the 2007 World Championships and placed second. Her replacement at this weight last year, Xiaomei Li, won a bronze medal. Ren is back down at 48 kg, and lost in the finals of the 2008 Asian Championships to Icho.
The other Olympic medalist from 2004, Patricia Miranda of the United States, will not be competing at the 2008 Olympics. Veteran Clarissa Chun defeated Miranda in the finals of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and will be seeking an Olympic medal of her own. Chun competed in the 2000 World Championships and was a Pan American Championships gold medalist in 2008.
There are two other talented women wrestlers from the Pan American nations who are expected to battle for an Olympic medal in 2008. Mayelis Caripa of Venezuela was third at the 2007 World Championships and Carol Huynh of Canada placed fifth last year at the World meet. Huynh won a World silver medal in 2001 and a World bronze medal in 2005, and has been fifth in the World the last two years.
Also qualifying for the Olympics by placing in the top eight at last year's World Championships were Maria Stadnyk of Azerbaijan and Sofia Mattsson of Sweden. Mattsson won Junior World titles in both 2006 and 2007. Stadnyk won the gold medal at the 2008 European Championships, defeating Vanessa Boubryemm of France in the finals. Boubryemm qualified for Beijing as the highest placewinner at the Europeans who had not yet qualified.
Russia is very competitive at this weight class. Qualifying Russia for the Olympics by winning one of the Qualification Tournaments was Elza Tazetdinova. Other possible entries for Russia include 2004 Olympian Lorissa Oorzak who is also a past Junior World champion. Other Russians to watch include Lilya Kaskarova of Russia, who was fifth in the 2005 World Championships, and Inga Karamtchakova, who has won three World medals.
Enkhjargal Tsogbazar of Mongolia, who was third at the Asian Championships this year, is among the qualifiers here. She won the Asian Championships in 2006 and the World University Championships in 2006.
Qualified nations at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Australia, Azerbaijan, Canada, China, El Salvador, France, Japan, Korea, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Tunisia, Ukraine, United States, Venezuela
RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS
2007 World Championships results
48 kg/105.5 lbs.- Gold - Chiharu Icho (Japan); Silver - Irini Merleni (Ukraine); Bronze - Xiaomei Li (China); Bronze - Mayelis Caripa (Venezuela); 5th - Carol Huynh (Canada); 5th - Stephanie Murata (United States); 7th - Maria Stadnyk (Azerbaijan); 8th - Sofia Mattsson (Sweden); 9th - Venessa Boubryemm (France); 10th - Brigitte Wagner (Germany)
2006 World Championships results
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Gold - Chiharu Icho (Japan); Silver - Ren Zue Cen (China); Bronze - Iwona Sadowska (Poland); Bronze - Francine DePaola (Italy); 5th - Marina Markevich (Belarus); 5th - Carol Huyhn (Canada); 7th - Nataliya Pulkovska (Ukraine); 8th - Hajar Ashtiani (Finland); 9th - Mary Kelly (USA); 10th - Sunisa Klahan (Thailand)
2005 World Championships results
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Gold - Xueceng Ren (China); Silver - Irini Merleni (Ukraine); Bronze - Carol Huynh (Canada); Bronze - Makiko Sakamoto (Japan); 5th - Mayelis Caripa (Venezuela); 5th - Liliya Kaskarakova (Russia); 7th - Jenny Wong (USA); 8th - Francine DePaola (France); 9th - Sigrun Dobner (Germany); 10th - Zhyldyz Eshimova (Kyrgyzstan)
2004 Olympic Games results
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Gold - Irini Merlini (Ukraine); Silver - Chiharu Icho (Japan); Bronze - Patricia Miranda (USA); 4th- Angelique Berthenet (France); 5th - Lorisa Oorzhak (Russia); 6th- Brigitte Wagner (Germany); 7th - Lidiya Karamchakova (Tajikistan); 8th - Enkhjargal Tsogbazar (Mongolia); 9th - Li Hui (China); 10th - Fani Psatha (Greece)
2008 Olympic Games preview at 55 kg/121 lbs. in women's freestyle wrestling
The top star in women's wrestling, 2004 Olympic champion Saori Yoshida of Japan, enters as a strong favorite to defend her Olympic title. Yoshida has won five World titles and won the Asian Championships again in 2008.
Entering this year, Yoshida had never lost an international match on the Senior level, going back to when she started dominating the sport seven years ago. However, her goal of finishing her career without a loss on the Senior level was ended at the 2008 World Cup, when she dropped a match to Marcie Van Dusen of the United States. Van Dusen, who was 10th at the 2007 World Championships and is a former University World champion, qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team.
2004 Olympic silver medalist Tonya Verbeek of Canada will be seeking another medal, after qualifying by winning the 2008 Pan American Championships by defeating Van Dusen in the finals. Verbeek also won a bronze medal at the 2005 World Championships.
One of the most consistent wrestlers in recent seasons has been Ida-Theres Karlsson of Sweden, who won a World silver medal in 2007 and a World bronze medal in 2006. Another top challenger is Russia's Natalia Golts, who won the 2008 European Championships. Golts has won four World bronze medals in her career, and seeks to reach the finals at the World level for the first time this year.
Other recent World medalists who have qualified for the Olympic Games are 2007 bronze medalist Olga Smirnova of Kazakhstan, 2006 silver medalist Mariyia Yaharova of Belarus and 2005 silver medalist Su Lihui of China. Smirnova placed ninth at the 2004 Olympic Games, competing for Russia.
Xu Li competed for China at the 2007 World Championships and the 2008 Asian Championships, and could be the Chinese entry at this division.
Qualifying their nation to compete at the Olympics with a top-eight placement at the 2007 World Championships were Alena Filipova of Belarus, Tatyana Lazareva of Ukraine, Jacqueline Renteria of Colombia and Yulia Ratkevich of Azerbaijan. Renteria won the 2007 Pan American Games, defeating Van Dusen in the championship match.
Qualified nations at 55 kg/121 lbs. - Azerbaijan, Belarus, Canada, China, Colombia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Tunisia, Ukraine, United States, Venezuela
Qualified nations at 55 kg/121 lbs. - Azerbaijan, Belarus, Canada, China, Colombia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Tunisia, Ukraine, United States, Venezuela
RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS
2007 World Championships results
55 kg/121 lbs. - Gold - Saori Yoshida (Japan); Silver - Ida-Theres Karlsson (Sweden); Bronze - Olga Smirnova (Kazakhstan); Bronze - Natalya Golts (Russia); 5th - Alena Filipova (Belarus); 5th - Tatyana Lazareva (Ukraine); 7th - Jacqueline Renteria (Colombia); 8th - Yulia Ratkevich (Azerbaijan); 9th - Tonya Verbeek (Canada); 10th - Marcie Van Dusen (United States)
2006 World Championships results
55 kg/121 lbs. - Gold - Saori Yoshida (Japan); Silver - Mariyia Yaharova (Belarus); Bronze - Minerva Montero (Spain); Bronze - Ida-Theres Karlsson (Sweden); 5th - Jessica Bechtel (Germany); 5th - Natalia Golts (Russia); 7th - Greeta (India); 8th - Anna Gomis (France); 9th - Naidan Otgonjargal (Mongolia); 10th - Li Song Ni (China)
2005 World Championships results
55 kg/121 lbs. -Gold - Saori Yoshida (Japan); Silver - Su Lihui (China); Bronze - Natalia Golts (Russia); Bronze - Tonya Verbeek (Canada); 5th - Minerva Montero (Spain); 5th - Ludmila Cristea (Moldova); 7th - Ana Maria Paval (Romania); 8th - Jessica Bechtel (Germany); 9th - Sylvia Bilenska (Poland); 10th - Anna Gomis (France)
2004 Olympic Games results
55 kg/121 lbs. - Gold - Saori Yoshida (Japan); Silver - Tonya Verbeek (Canada); Bronze - Anna Gomis (France); 4th - Ida-Theres Karlsson (Sweden); 5th - Sun Dongmei (China); 6th - Tela O'Donnell (USA); 7th - Lee Na Lae (Korea); 8th - Tetyana Lazareva (Ukraine); 9th - Olga Smirnova (Russia); 10th - Diletta Giampiccolo (Italy)
2008 Olympic Games preview at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. in women's freestyle wrestling
For six straight years, Kaori Icho of Japan has won the gold medal at this weight class, including the Olympic title in 2004. Icho has been a model of consistency, always ready for the major events. Icho added an Asian Championships gold medal this year, giving her additional momentum going into the Olympic year.
The battle in recent seasons has been for second place behind Icho. Winning the 2007 World silver medal was Elena Shalygina of Kazakhstan. The 2006 World silver medalist was Xu Hai Yan of China. Capturing second place at the 2005 World Championships was a different Chinese competitor, Rui Xue Jing. Xu was eighth at the World Championships in 2007.
Winning World bronze medals the last two years has been Monika Michalik-Rogien of Poland. The 2008 European champion was Alena Kartashova of Russia, who was a World champion in 2002 and placed eighth at the 2004 Olympic Games. Another potential entry for Russia is Lyubov Volosov, who was fifth in the 2006 World Championships.
2004 Olympic bronze medalist Lise Legrand of France will get a chance for a second Olympic medal after placing fifth at the 2007 World Championships to qualify for the Beijing Games. LeGrand won a bronze medal at 67 kg at the European Championships this year, the weight she has wrestled in recent seasons, but is expected to drop for the Olympics.
Canada will be represented by Martine Dugrenier, who has dropped down from 67 kg, where she has won silver medals at the World Championships the last three seasons. Dugrenier was at 63 kg at the 2008 Pan American Championships, where she won the gold medal.
Carrying the banner for the United States will be Randi Miller, who is competing in her first World-level event. Miller defeated 2004 Olympic silver medalist and three-time World medalist Sara McMann in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Miller has had good results in international events, and is expected to battle for high honors in Beijing.
Qualifying their nation for the Olympics by placing in the top eight at the 2007 World Championships were Yulia Ostapchuk of Ukraine and Olesja Zamula of Azerbaijan. Ostapchuk was a 2007 Junior World champion. Ukraine could be represented by Olga Khilko, who was second in the 2008 European Championships and third in the 2005 World Championships.
Top competitors out of Asia are Elena Shalygina of Kazakhstan, who was a Junior World silver medalist in 2006 and second in the 2007 Asian Championships, as well as Badrakh Odionchimeg of Mongolia, who was third in the 2007 Asian Championships.
Qualified nations at 63 kg/138.75 lbs - Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Egypt, Spain, France, Guam, Hungary, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, United States
RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS
2007 World Championships results
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Gold - Kaori Icho (Japan); Silver - Elena Shalygina (Kazakhstan); Bronze - Sara McMann (United States); Bronze - Monkia Michalik - Rogien (Poland); 5th - Lise Golliot - Legrand (France); 5th - Yulia Ostapchuk (Ukraine); 7th - Olesja Zamula (Azerbaijan); 8th - Haiyan Xu (China); 9th - Nikola Hartmann-Duenser (Austria); 10th - Badrakh Odonchimeg (Mongolia)
2006 World Championships results
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Gold - Kaori Icho (Japan); Silver - Xu Hai Yan (China); Bronze - Monika Rogien (Poland); Bronze - Helena Allandi (Sweden); 5th - Yoselin Rojas (Venezuela); 5th - Lyubov Volosov (Russia); 7th - Karine Shadoyan (Armenia); 8th - Agoro Papavassiliou (Greece); 9th - Mihaela Sadoveanu (Romania); 10th - Volha Khilko (Belarus)
2005 World Championships results
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Gold - Kaori Icho (Japan); Silver - Rui Xue Jing (China); Bronze - Sara McMann (USA); Bronze - Olga Khilko (Ukraine); 5th - Anna Polovneva (Russia); 5th - Katarzyna Juszezak (Italy); 7th - Michaela Krizkova (Czech Republic); 8th - Tara Hedican (Canada); 9th - Monika Szerencse (Hungary); 10th - Helena Allandi (Sweden)
2004 Olympic Games results
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Gold - Kaori Icho (Japan); Silver - Sara McMann (USA); Bronze - Lise Legrand (France); 4th - Stavroula Zygouri (Greece); 5th - Viola Yanik (Canada); 6th - Volha Khilko (Belarus); 7th - Stephanie Gross (Germany); 8th - Alena Kartashova (Russia); 9th - Lili Meng (China); 10th - Sara Eriksson (Sweden)
2008 Olympic Games preview at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. in women's freestyle wrestling
Among the dominant athletes in women's wrestling in recent seasons has been Stanka Zlateva of Bulgaria, who has won the last two World Championship gold medals. Zlateva came into her own two seasons ago with a win over Japan's star Kyoko Hamaguchi in the World finals in 2006, then defeated American star Kristie Marano in the 2007 World finals. Zlateva has continued her impressive wrestling into the new year, winning the gold medal at the 2008 European Championships.
The 2008 Olympics may be the final appearance of Hamaguchi, who won five World gold medals, but missed her goal of winning an Olympic title with her bronze-medal performance at the 2004 Athens Games. Last year, Hamaguchi slipped to ninth in the World Championships. She won the 2008 Asian Championships, a sign that she is wrestling well again. A hero in her native Japan, it would not be surprising if she rises to the occasion with a strong performance at the Beijing Olympics.
Wang Xu of China is the defending Olympic champion, winning her gold medal at the Athens Olympics. She will seek to win her second Olympic medal competing on her home mats in Beijing. She placed fifth at the World Championships last year and has not won a World medal since her Olympic performance.
Russia is loaded at this weight class. 2004 Olympic silver medalist Gouzel Manyurova could return seeking another Olympic medal. Manyurova was second behind Zlateva at the 2008 European Championships. In 2006, Elena Perepelkina won a World bronze for Russia at this weight class. Russia has additional depth at this weight class if they chose another entry.
The United States will be represented by two-time Junior World champion Ali Bernard, who made her first U.S. Senior-level team with an impressive performance during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Staying home for the USA will be two-time World champion Kristie Marano and 2005 World champion Iris Smith, neither who could qualify for the finals at the Olympic Trials. Bernard beat two-time World bronze medalist Katie Downing in the Trials finals, an indication that she can beat top talent under pressure.
Olga Zhanibekova of Kazakhstan had the best performance of her career in 2007, winning a bronze medal at the World Championships. Also qualifying with a top-eight finish at the 2007 World Championships were Maider Unda of Spain, Jenny Fransson of Sweden and Svetlana Sayenko of Ukraine. Sayenko was third in the 2005 World Championships and fourth in the 2004 Olympic Games. Fransson was third in the 2007 Junior World Championships and third in the 2008 European Senior Championships.
A veteran in the field will be Anita Schaetzle of Germany, who was third in the 2008 European Championships and won a bronze medal at the 2005 World Championships. Talented competitors from the Pan American nations are Ohenewa Akuffo of Canada and Rosangela Conceicao of Brazil.
Qualified nations at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Spain, France, Germany, Japan, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Tunisia, Ukraine, United States
RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS
2007 World Championships
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Gold - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria); Silver - Kristie Marano (United States); Bronze - Olga Zhanibekova (Kazakhstan) ; Bronze - Gouzel Manyurova (Russia); 5th - Xu Wang (China) ; 5th - Maider Unda (Spain); 7th - Jenny Fransson (Sweden); 8th - Svetlana Sayenko (Ukraine) ; 9th - Kyoko Hamaguchi (Japan); 10th - Rosangela Conceicao (Brazil)
2006 World Championships results
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Gold - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria); Silver - Kyoko Hamaguchi (Japan); Bronze - Elena Perepelkina (Russia); Bronze - Kristie Marano (United States); 5th - Vasilisa Marzaliuk (Belarus); 5th - Ohenewa Akuffo (Canada); 7th - Svitlana Saenko (Ukraine); 8th - Jenny Fransson (Sweden); 9th - Maria-Louisa Vrioni (Greece); 10th - Wang Jiao (China)
2005 World Championships results
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Gold - Iris Smith (USA); Silver - Kyoko Hamaguchi (Japan); Bronze - Anita Schaetzle (Germany); Bronze - Svetlana Sayenko (Ukraine); 5th - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria); 5th - Jiao Wang (China); 7th - Ohenewa Akuffo (Canada); 8th - Bumaa Orchirbat (Mongolia); 9th - Marina Gastl (Austria); 10th - Olga Zhanibekova (Kazakhstan)
2004 Olympic Games results
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Gold - Wang Xu (China); Silver - Gouzel Maniorova (Russia); Bronze - Kyoko Hamaguchi (Japan); 4th - Svitlana Sayenko (Ukraine); 5th - Christine Nordhagen (Canada); 6th - Anita Schaetzle (Germany); 7th - Toccara Montgomery (USA); 8th - Maria Louiza Vryoni (Greece); 9th - Marina Gastl (Austria); 10th - Burmaa Ochirbat (Mongolia)
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Comments RSSOn August 09, 2008 Steve Sanchez wrote
Hello all, The Maintenance Department from Rim of the World school District in Lake Arrowhead California wishing you all the best in your up and coming events and a special shout out to Marcie Van Dusen.We are pulling for you and wish you the best.Go Scots...
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