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Canadian upsets Icho in women's wrestling 48 kg

Yoshida retains wrestling crown

Hazelton celebrates its golden girl

A BRONZE MEDAL FOR CANADA: WOMENS WRESTLING IS ROCKING THE HOUSE

Canada’s Tonya Verbeek, right, won silver at the Athens Olympics, the first to include women’s wrestling. (Hasan Sarbakhshian/Canadian Press)

TONYA WINS A BRONZE MEDAL FOR CANADA @ 55 KG WEIGHT CLASS…

Canada’s only female wrestler to win an Olympic medal is feeling the pressure.

When Tonya Verbeek stepped on the mat four years ago in Athens, it was the first time women’s wrestling was part of the Olympic Games. She was virtually unknown to all but her competitors.

Everything changed when Verbeek won that silver medal.

“That’s what I’ve been dealing with the last few years,” says the Beamsville, Ont., native. “I had high expectations of myself thinking everyone has expectations of me. I’m really trying to work on that.”

“Intrinsic pressures,” adds her long-time coach, Marty Calder, “those are always the toughest.”

Verbeek is a four-time national champion at the 55 kg weight class, and has won nine international competitions since the Athens Games, most recently the 2008 Pan American Games. Talking to the 31-year-old, you wouldn’t know it.

“I know I’m a better wrestler since 2004, I do know that,” she says. “But I haven’t had my strongest results since the Olympics. The last two years have been very challenging.”

She’s referring to two disappointing world championship finishes – ninth in 2007 and a second-round loss in 2006.

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Canada’s Tonya Verbeek fights Otgonjargai Naidan of Mongolia during a match in the 55kg weight class of women’s wrestling at the Beijing Olympics. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

Canadian freestyle wrestler Tonya Verbeek won’t be fighting for Olympic gold or silver in Beijing, but she has a chance to win a bronze medal.

Verbeek, the silver medallist from the 2004 Olympic Games, dropped a tough semifinal bout Saturday in the women’s 55-kilogram category to Saori Yoshida of Japan, the woman who defeated her four years ago for gold in Athens.

Saori Yoshida scored two points early in the match and never looked back, winning the bout 8-0 to send Verbeek into the repechage round.

Yoshida, a six-time world champion from 2002-2007, is considered the most dominant female wrestler in the world. She had lost one match in the past seven years, a winning streak that was snapped at a World Cup earlier this year. She is scheduled to face Li Xu of China in the final.

Verbeek of Beamsville, Ont., will now fight the winner of Ida-Theres Nerell of Sweden and Natalia Golts of Russia in one of two bronze-medal bouts.

Verbeek’s bronze-medal bout is scheduled for 5:25 a.m. ET.

Earlier, Verbeek swept her round of 16 bout against Mongolia’s Otgonjargal Naidan 7-0 and topped Ludmila Cristea of Moldova 6-1 in the quarter-finals.

Canada's Carol Huynh won Canada's first gold medal of the Beijing Games on Saturday.

Finally!

Canada's medal drought came to an end on Day 8 of the Beijing Games, with Canadian athletes winning three medals on Saturday.

Wrestler Carol Huynh, a 27-year-old native of Hazelton, B.C., won Canada's first gold medal of the Games, winning the 48-kilogram freestyle weight class final over Japan's Chiharu Icho by a score of 4-0 and 2-1.

"This is unbelievable," she told CBC Sports following the medal ceremony. "I knew I wanted to go in with supreme confidence in my abilities, and not doubting myself one second. That's what I did, and I wrestled the match of my life, and it was awesome."

The men's rowing pair of Dave Calder, from Victoria, and Scott Frandsen, from Kelowna, B.C., started the day by winning Canada's first medal of the Olympics, claiming the silver on the water at Shunyi Olympic rowing park in Beijing.

"It was a tough race; we tried to ignore the fact that we haven't had a medal yet as a country, and just focus on our two [kilometres]," Calder told CBC Sports after the race.

"We can come off the water knowing we had a great race," said Frandsen.

Wrestler Tonya Verbeek won the second Olympic medal of her career and Canada's third of the day.

The Beamsville, Ont., native won bronze in the 55-kilogram weight class, beating Ida-Theres Nerell of Sweden by a score of 1-0, 1-0 in one of two bronze medal matches.

Verbeek, 31, won silver at the 2004 Athens Summer Games, the first to include women's freestyle wrestling.

She was smiling after the match, despite finishing one medal position below her 2004 Athens result. "I won a match to get the bronze and you're losing a match to get the silver," Verbeek said. "So it is a different feeling."

More medals for Canada could be on the way, as three Canadians advanced to women's and men's trampoline finals next week.

Rosannagh MacLennan of King City, Ont., finished third and Karen Cockburn of Toronto fourth in the women's preliminary round, while Toronto's Jason Burnett finished seventh among the men.

The women's final is Monday followed by the men Tuesday.

Blythe Hartley of Vancouver, B.C., qualified for the final of the women's three-metre springboard, finishing 10th in Saturday's semifinal with a total of 324.6 points from six dives.

The top 12 advanced to Sunday's final. Jennifer Abel of Montreal just missed the cut, finishing 13th in 296.1.

In other notable Canadian results:

• The Canadian baseball team lost 5-4 to the United States. With a 1-3 record, Canada must win its final three preliminary round contests to have any hope of reaching the semifinals.
• Zach Bell of Watson Lake, Yukon, was seventh in the men's points cycling race.
• The men's water polo team is now winless in four games after suffering a 13-7 loss to Greece.
• Carline Muir of Toronto advanced to Sunday's semifinals in the women's 400 metres. The 20-year-old ran a personal best 51.55 seconds to finish third in her heat and move on.
• Jessica Zelinka of London, Ont., finished sixth overall in the women's heptathlon with 6,490 points, and had personal-best performances in four of the seven events which comprise the competition
• Kelsie Hendry of Saskatoon failed to advance out of the qualifying round in the women's pole vault. She cleared 4.3 metres, but missed on all three attempts at 4.4.

Canada’s Female Wrestler Brings Home the First Gold

Verbeek wins second career Olympic medal

Bob Duff, Canwest News Service  Published: Saturday, August 16, 2008

Wrestler snaps Canada's medal drought

Huynh wins Canada's first of the Games, either gold or silver, in women's freestyle wrestling

August 16, 2008

SPORTS COLUMNIST

Canadian Carol Huynh guarantees herself a medal after beating Tatyana Bakatyk of Kazakstan in the 48 kg weight class on August 16, 2008.

BEIJING–Carol Huynh is the rarest of quantities at these Olympics: A Canadian guaranteed a medal.

The wrestler from Hazelton, B.C., earned Canada's first assurance of hardware from these Games today (early this morning Toronto time), when she was scheduled to fight in the gold-medal match of the 48-kg class in women's freestyle.

It was expected to come down to a race for Canada's first medal of the Games. Huynh was to wrestle in the gold medal match at the CAU Gymnasium at 4:50 p.m. local time – 4:50 a.m. ET – while rowers David Calder of Victoria and Scott Frandsen of Kelowna, B.C., race in the men's pair final at about 4:30 p.m. here. Calder and Frandsen won an important pre-Olympic regatta in Lucerne and were first in their qualifying heat. Both Huynh and the men's pair were picked for bronze medals by Sports Illustrated.

"It feels pretty special," Huynh said of ending Canada's medal drought. "I know that we've got more coming. I know we do, but it's nice to be the first one."

The wrestling mat held promise of yet more Canadian glory today. Tonya Verbeek of Beamsville, Ont., a silver medallist at the Athens Games four years ago, was set to wrestle for the bronze medal in the 55-kg class after she lost her semifinal match to Japan's Saori Yoshida.

Huynh, a bronze medallist at the 2005 world championship, will have no easy contest for gold. She'll face Chiharu Icho of Japan, a silver medallist at the Athens Olympics and, at age 26, a three-time world champion. Huynh reached the final after a 5-0 win over Kazakhstan's Tatyana Bakatyuk in the semi, a 2-0 win over South Korea's Kim Hyung-Joo in the quarter-finals and a 6-3 win over Azerbaijan's Mariya Stadnik in the round of 16.

"I was a little nervous at first," Huynh said about the semifinal. "I was a little bit heavy on my feet but I kept wrestling just like my coaches always tell me to do. Keep wrestling no matter what's going on and whoever stops wrestling first is the one (who'll be) done."

The daughter of immigrants who came to Canada from Vietnam, Huynh spoke before the Olympics of the impending excitement of competing in front of her parents, who were to be in Beijing thanks in part to a church fundraiser.

"It's going to be very emotional,'' Huynh told the Calgary Herald. "They're both very proud of me. They both grew up in Vietnam. They're both proud of where they came from. And they're both proud to be Canadian, too, of course.

"So for them to be able to come here, to China, to watch me wrestle at the Olympic Games ..."

With files from The Canadian Press

Japanese women wrestlers off to fine start

She went on to whip American Clarissa Chun with a decisive final takedown in an extra round after a 1-1 draw in the first two rounds.

Icho, a two-consecutive time world champion in the lightest division, was to battle Carol Huynh, the 2005 world bronze medallist, in the final.

Two more Japanese, Icho's younger sister and Olympic 63kg champion Kaori, and 72kg heavyweight Olympic bronze medallist Kyoko Hamaguchi, were to compete on Sunday on the final day of the four-event women's competition.

The foursome own 20 Olympic and world gold medals among them.

Yoshida was making a comeback from her shock defeat to unfancied American Marcie van Dusen at the World Cup team competition in China in January when her trademark tackles were countered and her 119-match winning streak was snapped.

Van Marcie, 10th at the world championships in Baku in Septemeber, faded in the second round in the other block, bowing to Colombian Jackeline Renteira 2-0.

'My perfomances were not as good as at the world championships,' said 25-year-old Yoshida, who won her fifth straight world title in Baku.

'But I am happy I have won these matches. I have worked hard on tackles which cannot be countered,' Yoshida said.

'I have trained in the basics of tackling for half a year. If I make the same mistake here, all my efforts will prove meaningless.'

Xu, third in the 2008 Asian championship contest won by Yoshida in March, moved through a block devoid of Olympic or world medallists, beating Renteira in the semi-finals.

8/16/08

Enlarge By Jeff Swinger, USA TODAY USA's Clarissa Chun reacts to losing her bronze medal match to Ukraine's Irini Merleni in their 105.5-pound freestyle wrestling match.

That dropped Chun into a bronze medal match, where she was pinned by 2004 Olympic champion Irini Merleni of Ukraine.

Though she smiled when she talked about wanting to kiss the gold medal, Chun was somber in assessing her overall day. She came here after upsetting 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda at the U.S. team trials.

"I feel I could have done more, that I didn't lay it all out there," Chun said.

The first day of women's wrestling brought a big upset victory for Canada when Carol Huynh beat Icho in their gold medal final. Canadian Tonya Verbeek won her second Olympic bronze at 121 pounds. Combined with a silver medal in rowing Saturday, they were Canada's first three medals of these Games.

While Icho took silver, Japanese teammate Saori Yoshida won her second Olympic gold in the 121-pound division.

Neither U.S. entry Saturday made the podium. Marcie Van Dusen won her first match at 121 but lost in the semifinals to Jackeline Renteria of Columbia, 7-2, 5-3. When Renteria failed to make the final, Van Dusen was eliminated from contention for bronze.

After opening with two victories, Chun faced her best-of-three period match with Icho.

Icho won the first period 1-0. Chun took the second period 3-0. The third period finished 1-1, but Icho won because she scored the last point.

"I know I could've won that match, no doubt," said Chun. "I'm very upset I didn't attack more. … I should've fought harder."

The Ukrainian was next for Chun after the break. Merleni won the first period 2-0. The score was tied at 1-1 in the second period when Merleni put Chun on the mat and pinned her with 1:06 elapsed in the two-minute period.

"It's the Olympic Games. We're not coming in here and expecting a medal to land in our lap," said U.S. coach Terry Steiner.

Said Merleni: "On one hand it's a pity (no gold). On the other hand, thank God I got the bronze. I appreciate this medal."

In the 105.5-pound final, Canada's Huynh beat Icho 4-0, 2-1. "She was quite strong, so I should accept the result," said Icho, rooted on by flag-waving Japanese fans.

At 121 pounds, Yoshida won her second Olympic gold with a victory against Li Xu of China. Yoshida won the first period 2-0 and pinned Li in the second.

The final two classes of women's wrestling will be contested Sunday. Randi Miller (138.75 pounds) of Arlington, Tex., and Ali Bernard (158.5) of New Ulm, Minn., will represent the USA. Like Chun and Van Dusen, both are first-time Olympians.

UPDATED; Chun places fifth at 48 kg in Olympic women's freestyle on Saturday
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling 08/16/2008		Related Links Olympics Special Section UPDATED Olympic photo gallery
BEIJING, CHINA ? Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) placed fifth at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. at the women?s freestyle wrestling competition at the China Agricultural University Gymnasium on Saturday. Chun was pinned in the bronze-medal match by 2004 Olympic champion Irini Merlini of Ukraine in the second period, 2-0, 1:06. Merlin won the first period with two takedowns. In the second period, Merlini scored first, but Chun came back with an arm throw to tie the match at 1-1. Midway through the period, Merlini took Chun down to her back, and after a struggle, was able to secure the fall at 1:06. Merlini was the 2004 Olympic champion and won World titles in 2000, 2001 and 2003. She added World silver medals in 2005 and 2007. Merlini was pinned in the quarterfinals by Japan?s Chihiru Icho, putting her into the repechage rounds. Chun won her first two matches on Saturday morning, but was defeated in a very tight, three-period match in the semifinals by two-time World champion and 2004 Olympic silver medalist Chiharu Icho of Japan, 1-0, 0-1, 1-1. Chun was a member of the 2000 U.S. World Team. She attended Missouri Valley College and is now a USOTC resident athlete. Chun defeated 2004 Olympic silver medalist Patricia Miranda in the Olympic Trials. She also competed in judo as a youth. Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), who was eliminated in the quarterfinals on Saturday morning, placed ninth in the final standings at 55 kg/121 lbs. MATCH SUMMARY Bronze medal - Irini Merlini (Ukraine) pin Clarissa Chun (USA), 2-0, 1:06 First period ? Chun came out strong with motion. An attempted arm throw by Chun was countered and Merlini scored the first takedown, 1-0. Merlini tied up Chun with upperbody techniques. Merlini hit an arm spin and after a scramble, she came out with a takedown at 1:35, 2-0. Second period ? Merlini went upperbody again and shucked Chun by to get a takedown in the first 20 seconds, 1-0. Chun hit a one-point arm throw to tie it at 1-1. Merlini rebounded to take Chun down and put her on the back and pinned her at 1:06. U.S. performances on Saturday 48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 5th place First match - Clarissa Chun (USA) dec. Sofia Mattsson (Sweden), 2-1, 4-1 Quarterfinals ? Clarissa Chun (USA) dec. Vanessa Boubryemm (France), 6-1, 2-1 Semifinals ? Chiharu Icho (Japan) dec. Clarissa Chun (USA), 1-0, 0-3, 1-1 Bronze medal match ? Irini Merlini (Ukraine) pin Clarissa Chun (USA), 2-0, 1:06 55 kg/121 lbs. - Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 9th place First match ? Marcie Van Dusen (USA) dec. Nataliya Synyshyn (Ukraine), 0-4, 1-1, 7-0 Quarterfinals ? Jackeline Renteria (Colombia) dec. Marcie Van Dusen (USA), 7-2, 5-3

Miller and Bernard receive draws for final day of women's freestyle on Sunday
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling 08/16/2008		Related Links Olympics Special Section Olympic Photo Gallery with women's competition update
BEIJING, CHINA - The women's freestyle wrestling competition at the China Agricultural University Gymnasium concludes on Sunday, with competition in two weight classes, 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and 72 kg/158.5 lbs. U.S. wrestlers Randi Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg and Ali Bernard, (New Ulm, Minn./Gator WC) have weighed in and received their draw for Sunday. Both wrestlers are competing in their first Olympic Games. Miller has drawn the No. 16 spot in the bracket and will have an extra qualification match, where she will face Haiat Farac of Egypt. If she wins, she will face Yuliya Ostapchuk of Ukraine. Olympic and World champion Kaori Icho of Japan is in Miller?s half of the bracket, and could face her in the quarterfinals. Also on her half of the bracket is three-time World silver medalist Martine Dugrunier of Canada and 2006 World silver medalist Xu Haiyan of China. "Randi has been very consistent. She is wrestling very good," said National Women's Coach Terry Steiner. "You know what you get when she steps on the mat. She comes at you. It becomes a brawl and a street fight. We believe she has the style to win. It is a loaded weight class. We feel very confident in what she can do." Miller is a native of Arlington, Texas. She attended Neosho CC in Kansas, McMurray College in Illiniois and the Northern Michigan Univ. USOEC program. She is now a USOTC resident athlete. She beat 2004 Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Bernard has drawn Amarachi Favour Obiajunwa of Nigeria. If she wins, she will face the winner of the match between Jenny Fransson of Sweden and Wang Jiao of China. Also in her half of the bracket is five-time World champion Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan. "She has some great ability. She needs to be in the right mindset and ready to fight in every situation. If she puts pressure on people, so they are attacking under her pressure, she will do well," said Steiner. "Ali finds a way to win. She is a winner. When the lights come on, she is ready to wrestle. She can go with any of these people. She hasn't wrestled a lot of them, which is to our benefit. She has an unorthodox style. I think she is very confident in her abilities." Bernard was a two-time Junior World champion, and three-time Junior World medalist. She attends the Univ. of Regina in Canada, where she is a four-time CIS champion. Steiner is upbeat about the competition on Sunday. "We have good spots," said Steiner. "I don't see anyone we can't beat. It is really about us. If we go out there and wrestle, we will go a long way. I feel confident."