Olympics-Wrestling-Hildebrandt wins freestyle event, Kusaka and Saravi grab Greco-Roman golds

By Amlan Chakraborty

PARIS (Reuters) -Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States put a chaotic morning behind her to win the women's 50kg freestyle event, while Japan's Nao Kusaka and Iran's Mohammadhadi Saravi won men's Greco-Roman gold at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.

Hildebrandt was originally scheduled to meet Vinesh Phogat in the gold medal match but the Indian was disqualified for being overweight.

Cuba's Yusneylys Guzman, who lost to Phogat in Tuesday's semi-finals, was promoted instead and Hildebrandt prevailed 3-0 to win the gold after claiming bronze in Tokyo three years ago.

"My mind and body are not computing everything, especially with the chaotic morning I had with the change of opponent," Hildebrandt said at the mixed zone while nibbling a muffin.

"It was very strange, like 'Oh my god, I just won the Olympics'" she said of the assumption she had prevailed by forfeit. "So there had to be a reset. I took a nap, woke up, and it was like a fever dream."

Tokyo champion Yui Susaki of Japan and Feng Ziqi of China won bronze.

In the men's Greco-Roman style, in which holds below the waist are prohibited, Kusaka beat Demeu Zhadrayev of Kazakhstan 5-2 to claim the 77kg gold.

"Since I was told about the design of this medal, I thought that it was so cool and that I'd like to have it so bad," he said.

"Now, looking at it in my hand, I'm feeling so happy about this achievement, because it's mine."

Beer was on Kusaka's mind when asked about his celebration.

"Champagne is not something I'm familiar with. I'm more of a beer guy. So I'd like to enjoy my beer first and then maybe champagne."

Armenia's Malkhas Amoyan and Kyrgyzstan's Akzhol Makhmudov took bronze in the event.

In the 97kg, Saravi turned the form book upside down with a 4-1 win against Artur Aleksanyan of Aremina, who claimed the silver.

Aleksanyan already had Olympic medals of every hue in his possession heading into the contest against an opponent he had beaten in each of their three previous encounters.

Saravi caught him by surprise though to improve on his bronze medal in Tokyo.

"This gold is specially sweet because I could not beat him in my last three attempts," the 26-year-old said.

"I have great respect for him and so I'm happy to have finally beaten him."

Cuba's Gabriel Rosillo and Uzur Dzhuzupbetook of Kyrgyzstan took bronze.

(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in Paris; editing by Ken Ferris, Ed Osmond and Bill Berkrot)