RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 18: With just seconds to spare, Kaori Icho reminded everyone why she’s the best women’s wrestler in history.
Icho became the first wrestler to win four Olympic gold medals on Wednesday, scoring a takedown with less than five seconds left to beat Valeriia Koblova Zholobova of Russia 3-2 in 58-kilogram women’s freestyle.
Icho is also the first woman to win an individual gold medal in four straight Olympics, having started her historic run at the inaugural women’s tournament in Athens in 2004.
Dhami bags historic wrestling gold
Multiple men have accomplished that feat, including American swimmer Michael Phelps.
Some wondered if Icho, now 32, still had what it takes to survive an Olympic tournament — especially after Orkhon Purevdorj of Mongolia snapped Icho’s 189-match winning streak this year.
Icho rolled to the finals, though, outscoring her opponents 24-1.
But Koblova Zholobova wouldn’t go away so easily. She scored a takedown late in the first period for a
2-1 lead.
Icho recovered at the last possible moment.
