Friday, November 3rd, 2023.- United States had a dominant Friday in wrestling at Santiago 2023, winning new medals that allowed them to reach 100 gold medals and increase their lead at the top of the Pan American Games overall medal standings.

The U.S. team claimed gold medals in male's Greco-Roman wrestling with victories from Ildar Hafizov in the 60 kg category and Kamal Bey in the 77 kg category. Additionally, they secured a bronze medal with Kayla Miracle's win in the female's 62 kg category.

Hafizov defeated Cuban wrestler Kevin de Armas in the final with a score of 7-5, while Bey triumphed over Brazilian wrestler Joilson De Brito with a score of 12-5. Meanwhile, Miracle won the bronze by defeating Venezuelan wrestler Nathaly Griman with a score of 10-3.

Pleased with the gold around his neck, Hafizov stated after the competition, "I feel very good. I had a couple of questionable lifts, but my coach told me to try to come back, and that's what I did. I'm never satisfied because I made a lot of mistakes, so now I want to go home and see how to fix them to be ready for the qualifiers."

Bey, on the other hand, declared after winning the gold medal, "It was a very good competition. This medal is very important to us, to the United States. It's special, having a gold medal is a blessing."

The United States continues to dominate in Santiago 2023 with 100 gold medals, 60 silvers, and 72 bronzes, leading with a total of 232 medals. Brazil is a distant second with 55 golds, 59 silvers, and 72 bronzes, accumulating 162 medals.

Written by Patricio Echagüe y Rodrigo Vargas; translated by Felipe Vergara / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport
Photo by Nicolás Ábalo / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport