Japan won four of the six available Olympic gold medals in women’s wrestling in Rio, with 63 kg freestyle wrestler Risako Kawai being responsible for the fourth gold.
Kawai took gold with a 6-0 victory over Maryia Mamashuk of Belarus, joining Eri Tosaka (48 kg), Kaori Icho (58 kg) and Sara Dosho (69 kg) as Japan’s women’s wrestling gold medalists. Saori Yoshida took silver in the 53 kg division, with the 75 kg class being the only one in which Japan did not win a medal. Mamashuk is Belarus’ first-ever Olympic medalist in women’s wrestling.
Taking bronze were Yekaterina Larionova of Kazakhstan and Monika Ewa Michalik of Poland, with Larionova beating American Elena Pirozhkova in one bronze medal match. Pirozhkova lost to Mamashuk in the semifinal round.
Kazakhstan has won two medals in women’s wrestling in Rio, and Michalik’s bronze is Poland’s second-ever Olympic medal in women’s wrestling (2008).
