Yusneylis Guzmán of Cuba faced defeat this Wednesday against the favored American, Sara Ann Hildebrandt, with a score of 0-3. Despite the loss, her silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics marks a historic achievement as the first ever for Cuban women's wrestling in the Olympic Games.
On her 28th birthday, Guzmán, affectionately known as "La Chiqui," couldn't withstand the push from Hildebrandt, who previously secured a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. To reach the final match in the 50-kilogram freestyle category, Guzmán, born in Havana, overcame Turkish competitor Evi Demirhan with a close 7-6 victory and then dominated Lithuanian Gabija Dilyte with a 10-0 win in the quarterfinals.
However, Guzmán fell to Indian wrestler Vinesh Vinesh with a score of 0-5 in the semifinals. In a twist of fate, Vinesh was disqualified after failing the routine weigh-in, which automatically eliminated her from the competition. This turn of events allowed Guzmán, trained by the experienced Filiberto Delgado, to secure her place on the podium, significantly improving her 12th place finish in Tokyo.
On the same day, Cuba also celebrated a bronze medal win by Gabriel Rosillo in the 97-kilogram Greco-Roman wrestling category. Rosillo benefited from an injury sustained by Uzbek wrestler Rustam Assakalov just seconds into their bout. Assakalov suffered a muscular problem in one of his shoulders and was unable to continue the match.
Rosillo, a world champion in 2023 and one of the division's favorites, had narrowly missed out on a gold medal chance after losing to Armenian wrestler Artur Alexanián with a score of 3-5 in the semifinals. In what many considered an early final, Rosillo showcased his full arsenal of techniques but couldn't overcome Alexanián, a four-time world champion and gold medalist from the Rio 2016 Olympics.
These achievements add to the gold medal won by the stellar Mijaín López in the 130-kilogram category. Meanwhile, Luis Orta still has a chance to climb the podium in the 67-kilogram division.
Currently, Cuba stands in 33rd place on the overall medal table with one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals, as the multi-sport event enters its final four days of competition.
Key Questions About Cuban Wrestling Achievements at Paris 2024
As Cuban wrestlers make significant strides at the Paris 2024 Olympics, here are some frequently asked questions to provide more insight into their accomplishments and the context of their historic performances.
What historic milestone did Yusneylis Guzmán achieve at Paris 2024?
Yusneylis Guzmán's silver medal is the first ever for Cuban women's wrestling in the history of the Olympic Games.
How did Gabriel Rosillo secure his bronze medal?
Gabriel Rosillo won the bronze medal after his opponent, Rustam Assakalov, sustained a shoulder injury early in their match and could not continue.
Who trained Yusneylis Guzmán for the Olympics?
Yusneylis Guzmán was trained by the experienced coach Filiberto Delgado.
What is Cuba's current standing in the overall medal table?
Cuba is currently in 33rd place with one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals.