Olympic Preview Series: 59 kg Greco-Roman
This weight has everything a wrestling fan could want at it: multiple gold medal contenders, bitter rivals, and young guns looking to prove themselves. Strap in folks because it could get a little wild come Sunday, August 15th at this weight.
Favorite:
Hamid Soryan Iran- When I look at 59 kg for Greco Roman, one wrestler sticks out to me: six time World Champion and defending Olympic Champion Hamid Soryan. Despite not winning gold at last year’s worlds and having to battle through the qualifying tournaments, Soryan still comes in as the favorite at these Olympics. If he can get to his body lock and turn guys on the mat like he has time and time again, he will be tough to beat.
Contenders:
Ismael Borrero Molina Cuba- Not often is the defending world champion and current No. 1 wrestler in the world not the favorite at the Olympics, but in the case of Borrero Molina, he still has quite a bit to prove. Up until his world title last year, he had been an above average wrestler coming in at 5th at the previous World Championships and losing to Spenser Mango at the 2015 Pan American Games. At last year’s World Championships though, Borrero Molina stormed through the field on his way to winning gold. The big question is now: can he do it again?
Rovshan Bayramov Azerbaijan- If there is anyone with a comparable resume to Hamid Soryan, it is 2011 World Champion Rovshan Bayramov. Over the course of his career, Bayramov has collected two silver medals at the Olympics and four medals at the World Championships. At the 2015 World Championships he cashed in with another silver medal and will be looking to upgrade to gold in Rio.
Won-Chol Yun North Korea- The 27 year old looks as if he’s just starting to hit his prime. After winning a world title in 2013, Yun came back from a nail biting loss to Bayramov to take bronze at last year’s World Championships. Despite not bringing home a medal at the last Olympics in London, Yun will be right in the thick of things in Rio.
Dark Horses:
Jesse Thielke USA- The road to Rio was not an easy one for Thielke. First he had to overcome rival Spenser Mango at the Olympic Team Trials. Then after failing to qualify in Mongolia, he had to beat Olympic bronze medalist Peter Modos and Olympic silver medalist Revaz Lashki just to make the finals in Istanbul where he lost to Soryan. Talk about a tough Olympic qualifier. Everyone knows Thielke has the talent to be on the podium in Rio, but can he put it together at the right time after having an up and down year?
Almat Kebispayev Kazakhstan- The three-time world medalist is just starting to find his form again. At the 2015 World Championships, Kebispayev ended a four-year medal drought for himself and came home with a bronze medal. He will be looking to carry some momentum over from Las Vegas into Rio and get that Olympic medal that has evaded him up until this point.
Elmurat Tasmuradov Uzbekistan- Last, but not least, is two-time world medalist from Uzbekistain Elmurat Tasmuradov. If not for a heartbreaking loss to Serafimov Angelov of Bulgaria at last year's World Championships, we would be talking about how Tasmuradov medaled at every World Championship in this quad. Needless to say, if he can get his low gut wrench going, Tasmuradov will be in contention for a medal.
Best of the Rest: Soslan Daurov Belarus, Stig Andre Berge Norway, Arsen Eraliev Kyrgyzstan
Predictions:
According to legend, when a badger is backed into a corner is when you see how truly mean of an animal it can be. The more I watch Jesse Thielke, the more I realize why they call him The Honey Badger. Every time Thielke has had his back has been against the wall this year, he has wrestled his best. He is one of the finest definitions of a gamer. In my opinion, Thielke can score from any position and anywhere on the mat and that is why I think he has what it takes to find his way on the podium this Sunday in Rio.
Now the biggest question is who do I think will claim the other three medals? I think Hamid Soryan will win one last Olympics to cement himself among the great Greco-Roman wrestlers of all time. Playing the second fiddle once again, for the third straight Olympics, will be Rovshan Bayramov and coming in at the other bronze medal will be the young phenom Ismael Borreo Molina. That leaves Won-Choi Yun as the odd man out in my predictions. It was not easy pulling the trigger on Thielke over Yun and only time will tell how that prediction pans out.
Medals
Gold: Hamid Soryan
Silver: Rovshan Bayramov
Bronze: Ismael Borreo Molina
Bronze: Jesse Thielke
5th: Won-Choi Yun
5th: Almat Kebispayev