Continued from page 6 Adeline Gray (left) and Helen Maroulis captured World women’s freestyle titles for the United States. John Sachs photos.
114-2 in his brilliant international career. He won six matches to run his current winning streak to 23. He was 22-0 this season and will now point toward winning his second Olympic gold medal next year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Burroughs also joins an exclusive club of American wrestlers with at least three World titles in men’s freestyle. That group includes Smith (four World golds), Lee Kemp (three) and Baumgartner (three). Burroughs outlasted World No. 2 ranked Aniuar Geduev of Russia 4-3 in a hard-fought semifinal. Wrestling in his first World Championships on the Senior level, Snyder turned in a brilliant performance in becoming the youngest World champion in U.S. history at age 19. He was also the youngest World finalist and medalist in U.S. history. “I like making history,” Snyder said. “I want to be known as one of the greatest wrestlers to ever live.” Snyder knocked off returning World champion Abdusalam Gadisov of Russia 5-5 on criteria in the men’s freestyle gold- medal match at 97 kg/213 lbs.
"It just feels really good," Snyder said. "It felt like all the hard work I put in paid off. Wrestling is not a sport where you can just go to practice and not think about it for the rest of the day. I think about wrestling constantly. "A lot of time goes into something like this. Guys like Gadisov and other guys in my bracket are a big reason why I am where I am today. I appreciate them, and I know without them pushing me to be better, I wouldn't be where I am."
Snyder won by virtue of scoring on a pair of two-point moves to one two-point move for Gadisov. Snyder scored a takedown early in the second period to lead 3-1, but Gadisov came right back with a takedown of his own. After Gadisov scored a pushout to lead 4-3, Snyder powered straight in on a low-level leg attack for a takedown and a 5-4 lead with 23 seconds left.
Gadisov scored a late pushout to tie it 5-5, but Snyder had the edge in criteria and earned the win. Snyder ran around the mat holding an American flag in celebration of his historic win as fans stood and cheered.
"The crowd was incredible, they were amazing," Snyder said. "It made a big difference. The fans were awesome." Snyder placed second at March’s Big Ten and NCAA Championships as a true freshman for national team champion Ohio State. He plans to take an Olympic redshirt during the 2015-16 school year.
"This is what I've been thinking about doing since the NCAA finals," Snyder said. "I worked hard with the coaches at Ohio State to get it done. I wasn't going to walk off the mat here with- out bringing home a gold medal. "I took second at Big Tens and second at NCAAs. I wasn't going to take silver at Worlds."
Gray and Maroulis hit the jackpot by putting on an incredible show in a city known for amazing performances. The two American stars powered to dominating victories as both captured gold medals in women’s freestyle.
Continued on page 8 USA Wrestler 7
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44