FLASH: Tamyra Mensah wins bronze on first day of Olympic Test Event in Brazil

Tamyra Mensah (USA) in action at the Olympic Test Event in Rio. Photo: Robbert Wijtman, CSC Photography

RIO DE JANIERO, Brazil - 2016 U.S. Open champion Tamyra Mensah (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC) won a bronze medal at 69 kg/152 lbs. on the first day of the Olympic Test Event on Saturday, held in the Olympic venue for wrestling.


Mensah opened with a 10-0 technical fall over Camila Fama Tristao of Brazil, who was third in the 2012 Pan American Championships. In the semifinals, she was defeated by 2015 World silver medalist Zhou Feng of China, in a 3-14 technical fall.


Mensah did not have a bronze-medal match, when Dailane Gomes dos Reis of Brazil withdrew after an injury in her opening match against Zhou Feng.


"I know now in my heart that I can compete with the best women in the world. Knowing this only gets me more excited for the Olympics. I enjoyed getting down here to experience the atmosphere, area, and wrestling,” said Mensah.


Mensah won a Special Wrestle-off over 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Randi Miller of the U.S. Army WCAP last Friday to earn her spot on this tour. Mensah was second in the 2015 World Team Trials at this weight. She is a past WCWA college national champion for Wayland Baptist University.


Three other U.S. women weighed in and received their draws for Sunday’s action.


Three-time World champion Adeline Gray (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) opens at 75 kg/165 lbs. against 2014 World silver medalist Aline da Silva Ferreira, the top women’s star for host Brazil. Gray defeated da Silva in the finals of the 2014 World Championships in Uzbekistan.


Moving up a weight to 53 kg/116.5 lbs. is two-time World bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), who drew 2014 Asian bronze medalist Anna Iwamure of Japan.


2015 U.S. World Team member Erin Clodgo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) is competing at 63 kg/138.75 lbs and will draw Wang Xiaoquan of China, who was 10th in the 2014 World Championships.


More complete results from Rio will be posted when received.


OLYMPIC TEST EVENT

At Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, January 30


U.S. women’s freestyle performances


69 kg/152 lbs. – Tamyra Mensah, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC), 3rd

WIN Camila Fama Tristao (Brazil), tech. fall 10-0

LOSS Zhou Feng (China), tech. fall 3-14


U.S. women’s draws for Sunday


53 kg/116.5 lbs. – Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)

Vs. Anna Iwamure (Japan), 3rd in 2014 Asian Championships, 2013 Mongolian Open champion


63 kg/138.75 lbs – Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)

Vs. Wang Xiaoquan (China), 2015 Grand Prix of Spain champion, 10th in 2014 World Championships


75 kg/165 lbs. – Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)

Vs. Aline da Silva Ferreira (Brazil), 2014 World silver medalist, 5th in 2015 World Championships