Olympic Games preview in women's freestyle at 75 kg/165 lbs.
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Adeline Gray scores exposure points in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials finals against Victoria Francis. Photo by John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com
Date of competition: Thursday, August 18
Three-time World champion and five-time World medalist Adeline Gray of the USA heads into the Rio Olympic Games with great confidence and momentum. On a two-year winning streak, Gray has not only defeated most of the top rivals in her weight class, but has been dominant in many of her victories. We are seeing a special athlete in the prime of her career, looking to make history.
That said, Gray fully understands that the field in Rio will be loaded with experienced talent, including other athletes fully capable of winning the gold medal. There are numerous challengers with Olympic or World medals and extensive experience.
China’s Qian Zhou won the 2015 World silver medal and 2014 World bronze medal at the weight. Gray beat her handily in the 2015 finals, but had to make an amazing comeback to stop Qian in the first round at the 2014 Worlds. However, the UWW field for the Olympics lists a different entry from China, 2013 World champion Fengliu Zhang, who was third in the 2016 Olympic Test Event in Brazil. Zhang also boasts a 2007 Junior World silver medal.
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The 2014 World silver medalist was Aline da Silva Ferreira of host Brazil, who had a close match with Gray in their World finals. Da Silva boasts a World Military gold medal and a Junior World silver medal and has strong throwing abilities. She was fifth at the 2015 Worlds.
Gouzel Manyurova of Kazakhstan won an Olympic silver medal for Russia in 2004 and an Olympic bronze medal for Kazakhstan in 2012. Add in a World silver medal for Kazakhstan and a World bronze medal for Russia and she has more experience than anyone else in the field.
Erica Wiebe of Canada goes into Rio with a No. 2 World ranking, although she has yet to win her first Senior World medal. Gray beat Wiebe in the finals of the 2012 University World Championships. Wiebe has added a World University title, a Commonwealth Games gold and a victory at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier and comes in after perhaps her best season on the World circuit.
Three-time World bronze medalist Vasilisa Marzaliuk of Belarus was a 2015 European Games champion, and captured a Junior World title back in 2006. She was also fifth at the 2012 Olympic Games. UWW has her ranked No. 3 going into Rio.
2011 World silver medalist and 2010 World bronze medalist Ekatarina Bukina of Russia won the 2016 Russian Nationals and took gold in the 2nd World Olympic Qualifier in Turkey. Bukina was a 2013 World University Games champion as well.
2015 World bronze medalist Epp Mae of Estonia has extensive experience and numerous international medals. 2010 World bronze medalist All Cherkasova of Ukraine was also a Junior World bronze medalist.
Competing in her third Olympic Games is Annabel Laure Ali of Cameroon, who has won six African titles and a Commonwealth Championships gold. 2012 Olympian Cynthia Vescan of France won a pair of Junior World silver medals.
There are five entries from the Pan American continent, with Gray, da Silva, Weibe, Andrea Olaya of Colombia and Jaramit Weffer of Venezuela. All are familiar with each other. Olaya placed fifth at the 2014 and 2015 World Championships, and Weffer has wrestled in six Senior World meets.
2016 European champion Yasemin Adar of Turkey .has been fifth in the World Championships two times, making her a medal contender.
The field also includes 2011 Cadet World champion Zsanett Nemeth of Hungary, 2014 Asian Games champion Rio Watari of Japan, two-time African champion Samar Hamza of Egypt and veteran Maria Selmaier of Germany. This is a very deep field, and whoever wins gold will have to beat some prime talent.
PROJECTED OLYMPIC GAMES FIELD
Belarus - Vasilisa Marzaliuk (World No. 3)
Brazil -Aline da Silva Ferreira (World No. 4)
Cameroon -Annabel Laure Ali
Canada - Erica Wiebe (World No. 2)
China – Fengliu Zhang or Qian Zhou (World No. 11)
Colombia – Andrea Olaya (World No. 7)
Egypt - Samar Hamza
Estonia - Epp Mae (World No. 8)
France - Cynthia Vescan (World No. 10)
Germany - Maria Selmaier (World No. 17)
Hungary - Zsanett Nemeth (World No. 12)
Japan - Rio Watari (World No. 19)
Kazakhstan - Guzel Manyurova (World No. 14)
Russia - Ekaterina Bukina (World No. 5)
Turkey - Yasemin Adar (World No. 6)
Ukraine - Alla Cherkasova (World No. 9)
United States - Adeline Gray (World No. 1)
Venezuela - Jaramit Weffer (World No. 16)
*UWW Pre-Olympic World ranking released July 27
RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS
2015 World Championships
75 kg/165 lbs. - Gold – Adeline Gray (United States); Silver – Qian Zhou (China); Bronze – Epp Mae (Estonia); Bronze – Vasilisa Marzaliuk (Belarus); 5th – Andrea Olaya Gutierrez (Colombia); 5th – Aline Da Silva Ferreira (Brazil); 7th – Ekaterina Bukina (Russia); 8th – Daria Osocka (Poland); 9th – Guzel Manyurova (Kazakhstan); 10th – Yasemin Adar (Turkey)
2014 World Championships
75 kg/165 lbs. - Gold – Adeline Gray (USA); Silva – Aline Da Silva (Brazil); Bronze – Burmaa Ochirbat (Mongolia); Bronze – Zhou Qian (China); 5th – Andrea Olaya (Colombia); 5th – Epp Mae (Estonia); 7th – Hiroe Suzuki (Japan); 8th – Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria); 9th – Yasemin Adar (Turkey); 10th – Erica Wiebe (Canada)
2013 World Championships
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Gold – Fengliu Zhang (China); Silver – Natalia Vorobeva (Russia); Bronze – Adeline Gray (USA); Bronze – Burmaa Ochirbat (Mongolia); 5th – Yasemin Adar (Turkey); 5th – Svetlana Saenko (Moldova); 7th – Erica Wiebe (Canada); 8th – Cynthia Vescan (France); 9th – Hiroe Suzuki (Japan); 10th – Epp Mae (Estonia)
2012 Olympic Games
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Gold – Natalia Vorobieva (Russia); Silver – Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria); Bronze – Gouzel Manyurova (Kazakhstan); Bronze – Madier Unda Gonzales (Spain); 5th – Jiao Wang (China); 5th – Vasilisa Marzaliuk (Belarus); 7th – Laure Ali Annabel (Cameroon); 8th – Burmaa Ochirbat (Mongolia); 9th – Jenny Fransson (Sweden); 10th – Svetlana Saenco (Moldova)
2012 World Championships
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Gold – Jenny Fransson (Sweden); Silver – Guzel Manyurova (Kazakhstan); Bronze – Vasilisa Marzaliuk (Belarus); Bronze – Qing Xu (China); 5th - Nataliya Palamarchuk (Azerbaijan); 5th - Yasemin Adar (Turkey); 7th - Ekatina Bukina (Russia); 8th - Maria Selmaier (Germany); 9th - Oksana Vashchuk (Ukraine); 10th - Aline Da Silva (Brazil)
2011 World Championships
72 kg/158.5 pounds - Gold - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria); Silver - Ekaterina Bukina (Russia); Bronze - Ali Bernard (United States); Bronze - Vasilisa Marzaliuk (Belarus) 5th - Laure Ali Annabel (Cameroon); 5th - Gouzel Manyurova (Kazakhstan), 7th - Maja Erslanden (Norway); 8th - Epp Mae (Estonia); 9th- Cynthia Vescan (France); 10th - Aline da Silva Ferreira (Brazil)
2010 World Championships
72 kg/158 lbs. - Gold – Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria); Silver – Ohenewa Akuffo (Canada); Bronze –Ekatarina Bukina (Russia); Bronze –Kyoko Hamaguchi (Japan); 5th – Jenny Fransson (Sweden); 5th – Maider Unda (Spain); 7th – Dan Li (China); 8th – Stephany Lee (United States); 9th – Burmaa Ochirbat (Mongolia); 10th – Maria Muller (Germany)
2009 World Championships
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Gold - Xiaoqing Qin (China); Silver - Burmaa Ochirbat (Mongolia); Bronze - Maider Under (Spain); Bronze - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria); 5th - Marina Gastl (Austria); 5th - Svitlana Sayenko (Ukraine); 7th - Dina Ivanova (Azerbaijan); 8th - Simge Yilmaz (Turkey); 9th - Anabel Laure Ali (Cameroon); 10th - Ohenewa Akuffo (Canada)
Date of competition: Thursday, August 18
Three-time World champion and five-time World medalist Adeline Gray of the USA heads into the Rio Olympic Games with great confidence and momentum. On a two-year winning streak, Gray has not only defeated most of the top rivals in her weight class, but has been dominant in many of her victories. We are seeing a special athlete in the prime of her career, looking to make history.
That said, Gray fully understands that the field in Rio will be loaded with experienced talent, including other athletes fully capable of winning the gold medal. There are numerous challengers with Olympic or World medals and extensive experience.
China’s Qian Zhou won the 2015 World silver medal and 2014 World bronze medal at the weight. Gray beat her handily in the 2015 finals, but had to make an amazing comeback to stop Qian in the first round at the 2014 Worlds. However, the UWW field for the Olympics lists a different entry from China, 2013 World champion Fengliu Zhang, who was third in the 2016 Olympic Test Event in Brazil. Zhang also boasts a 2007 Junior World silver medal.
,
The 2014 World silver medalist was Aline da Silva Ferreira of host Brazil, who had a close match with Gray in their World finals. Da Silva boasts a World Military gold medal and a Junior World silver medal and has strong throwing abilities. She was fifth at the 2015 Worlds.
Gouzel Manyurova of Kazakhstan won an Olympic silver medal for Russia in 2004 and an Olympic bronze medal for Kazakhstan in 2012. Add in a World silver medal for Kazakhstan and a World bronze medal for Russia and she has more experience than anyone else in the field.
Erica Wiebe of Canada goes into Rio with a No. 2 World ranking, although she has yet to win her first Senior World medal. Gray beat Wiebe in the finals of the 2012 University World Championships. Wiebe has added a World University title, a Commonwealth Games gold and a victory at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier and comes in after perhaps her best season on the World circuit.
Three-time World bronze medalist Vasilisa Marzaliuk of Belarus was a 2015 European Games champion, and captured a Junior World title back in 2006. She was also fifth at the 2012 Olympic Games. UWW has her ranked No. 3 going into Rio.
2011 World silver medalist and 2010 World bronze medalist Ekatarina Bukina of Russia won the 2016 Russian Nationals and took gold in the 2nd World Olympic Qualifier in Turkey. Bukina was a 2013 World University Games champion as well.
2015 World bronze medalist Epp Mae of Estonia has extensive experience and numerous international medals. 2010 World bronze medalist All Cherkasova of Ukraine was also a Junior World bronze medalist.
Competing in her third Olympic Games is Annabel Laure Ali of Cameroon, who has won six African titles and a Commonwealth Championships gold. 2012 Olympian Cynthia Vescan of France won a pair of Junior World silver medals.
There are five entries from the Pan American continent, with Gray, da Silva, Weibe, Andrea Olaya of Colombia and Jaramit Weffer of Venezuela. All are familiar with each other. Olaya placed fifth at the 2014 and 2015 World Championships, and Weffer has wrestled in six Senior World meets.
2016 European champion Yasemin Adar of Turkey .has been fifth in the World Championships two times, making her a medal contender.
The field also includes 2011 Cadet World champion Zsanett Nemeth of Hungary, 2014 Asian Games champion Rio Watari of Japan, two-time African champion Samar Hamza of Egypt and veteran Maria Selmaier of Germany. This is a very deep field, and whoever wins gold will have to beat some prime talent.
PROJECTED OLYMPIC GAMES FIELD
Belarus - Vasilisa Marzaliuk (World No. 3)
Brazil -Aline da Silva Ferreira (World No. 4)
Cameroon -Annabel Laure Ali
Canada - Erica Wiebe (World No. 2)
China – Fengliu Zhang or Qian Zhou (World No. 11)
Colombia – Andrea Olaya (World No. 7)
Egypt - Samar Hamza
Estonia - Epp Mae (World No. 8)
France - Cynthia Vescan (World No. 10)
Germany - Maria Selmaier (World No. 17)
Hungary - Zsanett Nemeth (World No. 12)
Japan - Rio Watari (World No. 19)
Kazakhstan - Guzel Manyurova (World No. 14)
Russia - Ekaterina Bukina (World No. 5)
Turkey - Yasemin Adar (World No. 6)
Ukraine - Alla Cherkasova (World No. 9)
United States - Adeline Gray (World No. 1)
Venezuela - Jaramit Weffer (World No. 16)
*UWW Pre-Olympic World ranking released July 27
RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS
2015 World Championships
75 kg/165 lbs. - Gold – Adeline Gray (United States); Silver – Qian Zhou (China); Bronze – Epp Mae (Estonia); Bronze – Vasilisa Marzaliuk (Belarus); 5th – Andrea Olaya Gutierrez (Colombia); 5th – Aline Da Silva Ferreira (Brazil); 7th – Ekaterina Bukina (Russia); 8th – Daria Osocka (Poland); 9th – Guzel Manyurova (Kazakhstan); 10th – Yasemin Adar (Turkey)
2014 World Championships
75 kg/165 lbs. - Gold – Adeline Gray (USA); Silva – Aline Da Silva (Brazil); Bronze – Burmaa Ochirbat (Mongolia); Bronze – Zhou Qian (China); 5th – Andrea Olaya (Colombia); 5th – Epp Mae (Estonia); 7th – Hiroe Suzuki (Japan); 8th – Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria); 9th – Yasemin Adar (Turkey); 10th – Erica Wiebe (Canada)
2013 World Championships
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Gold – Fengliu Zhang (China); Silver – Natalia Vorobeva (Russia); Bronze – Adeline Gray (USA); Bronze – Burmaa Ochirbat (Mongolia); 5th – Yasemin Adar (Turkey); 5th – Svetlana Saenko (Moldova); 7th – Erica Wiebe (Canada); 8th – Cynthia Vescan (France); 9th – Hiroe Suzuki (Japan); 10th – Epp Mae (Estonia)
2012 Olympic Games
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Gold – Natalia Vorobieva (Russia); Silver – Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria); Bronze – Gouzel Manyurova (Kazakhstan); Bronze – Madier Unda Gonzales (Spain); 5th – Jiao Wang (China); 5th – Vasilisa Marzaliuk (Belarus); 7th – Laure Ali Annabel (Cameroon); 8th – Burmaa Ochirbat (Mongolia); 9th – Jenny Fransson (Sweden); 10th – Svetlana Saenco (Moldova)
2012 World Championships
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Gold – Jenny Fransson (Sweden); Silver – Guzel Manyurova (Kazakhstan); Bronze – Vasilisa Marzaliuk (Belarus); Bronze – Qing Xu (China); 5th - Nataliya Palamarchuk (Azerbaijan); 5th - Yasemin Adar (Turkey); 7th - Ekatina Bukina (Russia); 8th - Maria Selmaier (Germany); 9th - Oksana Vashchuk (Ukraine); 10th - Aline Da Silva (Brazil)
2011 World Championships
72 kg/158.5 pounds - Gold - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria); Silver - Ekaterina Bukina (Russia); Bronze - Ali Bernard (United States); Bronze - Vasilisa Marzaliuk (Belarus) 5th - Laure Ali Annabel (Cameroon); 5th - Gouzel Manyurova (Kazakhstan), 7th - Maja Erslanden (Norway); 8th - Epp Mae (Estonia); 9th- Cynthia Vescan (France); 10th - Aline da Silva Ferreira (Brazil)
2010 World Championships
72 kg/158 lbs. - Gold – Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria); Silver – Ohenewa Akuffo (Canada); Bronze –Ekatarina Bukina (Russia); Bronze –Kyoko Hamaguchi (Japan); 5th – Jenny Fransson (Sweden); 5th – Maider Unda (Spain); 7th – Dan Li (China); 8th – Stephany Lee (United States); 9th – Burmaa Ochirbat (Mongolia); 10th – Maria Muller (Germany)
2009 World Championships
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Gold - Xiaoqing Qin (China); Silver - Burmaa Ochirbat (Mongolia); Bronze - Maider Under (Spain); Bronze - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria); 5th - Marina Gastl (Austria); 5th - Svitlana Sayenko (Ukraine); 7th - Dina Ivanova (Azerbaijan); 8th - Simge Yilmaz (Turkey); 9th - Anabel Laure Ali (Cameroon); 10th - Ohenewa Akuffo (Canada)
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