Quotes from U.S. wrestlers Randi Miller and Ali Bernard, and U.S. Coach Terry Steiner after Sunday's afternoon session of the Olympics
Share:
by USA Wrestling
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Randi Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC)
On the winning takedown:
"I knew I had time to try something. The front headlock wasn't working, so I knew I had to shoot. That's what I did and it worked out for me. It was a double-leg shot off the front headlock."
What was going through your mind when you needed to score in the final seconds?:
"Shoot, shoot. Shoot now. Now, now, now."
"I knew I didn't have much time left. They were saying it on the loudspeaker and I knew I had to go."
Emotions on winning the bronze:
"I really wanted a gold medal today, but I am very happy with a bronze. She was a very tough opponent. She is a World silver medalist. I need to learn from this tournament and next time I need to bring home a gold."
"This is my first Olympic medal. It may be my last, who knows? Every athlete who comes here is very tough."
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Gator WC)
On the bronze-medal match:
"I tried my hardest and it wasn't good enough. My goal was a gold medal. I wanted a medal and it didn't happen. Better luck four years from now."
"I don't have a lot of international experience. Hopefully, I will get a chance to go on more trips and get more experience."
U.S. Coach Terry Steiner (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
On Miller's win in the bronze-medal match:
"Randi wrestled almost a perfect match. She stayed in her opponent's face and stayed tough. She found a way to win at the end. She did a great job of working to get that point. I was hoping we would score a little bit earlier. Randi's hard to wrestle when she sets that kind of pace. I knew Randi would wear her down - it was just a matter of time. It was a classical Randi type of a match."
On Bernard's loss in the bronze-medal match:
"She's a great competitor and she wrestled hard out there. We just have a few things we need to clean up. We just need to build on this and continue to get better.
On the winning takedown:
"I knew I had time to try something. The front headlock wasn't working, so I knew I had to shoot. That's what I did and it worked out for me. It was a double-leg shot off the front headlock."
What was going through your mind when you needed to score in the final seconds?:
"Shoot, shoot. Shoot now. Now, now, now."
"I knew I didn't have much time left. They were saying it on the loudspeaker and I knew I had to go."
Emotions on winning the bronze:
"I really wanted a gold medal today, but I am very happy with a bronze. She was a very tough opponent. She is a World silver medalist. I need to learn from this tournament and next time I need to bring home a gold."
"This is my first Olympic medal. It may be my last, who knows? Every athlete who comes here is very tough."
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Gator WC)
On the bronze-medal match:
"I tried my hardest and it wasn't good enough. My goal was a gold medal. I wanted a medal and it didn't happen. Better luck four years from now."
"I don't have a lot of international experience. Hopefully, I will get a chance to go on more trips and get more experience."
U.S. Coach Terry Steiner (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
On Miller's win in the bronze-medal match:
"Randi wrestled almost a perfect match. She stayed in her opponent's face and stayed tough. She found a way to win at the end. She did a great job of working to get that point. I was hoping we would score a little bit earlier. Randi's hard to wrestle when she sets that kind of pace. I knew Randi would wear her down - it was just a matter of time. It was a classical Randi type of a match."
On Bernard's loss in the bronze-medal match:
"She's a great competitor and she wrestled hard out there. We just have a few things we need to clean up. We just need to build on this and continue to get better.
Read More#
2025 Final X Weekend Watch Guide
National Wrestling Hall of Fame inducts Class of 2025 at Honors Weekend in Stillwater, Okla., June 6-7
Elor, Glaude to meet at 72 kg in women’s freestyle at 2025 Final X in Newark, N.J.
U.S. women sweep 10 gold medals and easily win team title at U15 Pan American Championships in Guatemala