U.S. wrestler Tamyra Mensah-Stock makes Olympic history Tuesday after winning gold in the women’s 68-kg freestyle final. She’s the first Black woman to win Olympic gold for the U.S. in the sport, and only the second woman in U.S. Olympic history.
Helen Maroulis brought home gold for Team USA during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro competing in the 57-kg category. Prior to bringing home gold for Team USA in 2016, Maroulis won gold at the 2011 Pan American Games and again at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships.
Tamyra Mensah-Stock Earns Gold
Mensah-Stock defeated Nigeria’s Blessing Oborududu 4-1 after two quick takedowns in the first period. Neither athlete scored points in the second period. Oborududu became the first Nigerian athlete to win an Olympic medal in wrestling after bringing home the silver medal. Mensah-Stock shared her excitement with Oborududu, proudly honoring each of their accomplishments in the sport and the Olympics.
She defeated Sara Dosho, the 2016 gold medalist and 2017 world champion, in her first match and moved on to defeat Feng Zhou, scoring 10-0 against each opponent. She went on to defeat Ukraine’s Alla Cherkasova 10-4 in the semi-finals.
Tamyra Mensah-Stock: “I Love Representing the US”
The 28-year-old shared a powerful sentiment to a Fox News reporter amidst her historic victory. “I love representing the US, I freaking love living there. I love it, and I’m so happy I get to represent USA!,” Mensah-Stock said as she smiled with her U.S. flag wrapped around her shoulders.
The gold medalist began wrestling in 10th grade at her Katy, Texas, high school, about the same time she lost her father in a tragic car accident. He was driving home from a wrestling match at the time of the accident, per reports from Team USA. She shared a close bond with her sister growing up and says she was her “role model” and inspiration to compete.
Tamyra Mensah-Stock Makes Olympic History
Tamyra Mensah-Stock makes Olympic history at an important time in the U.S.A., considering the tumultuous year everyone has experienced with racial disparities. She’s an exemplary person who represents the country with dignity and pride, and with sheer happiness and excitement. She is not done yet.
Of her Olympic gold winnings, Mensah-Stock says her mom gets the first $30,000 to fund her food truck business, a dream she has always had. She also plans to use her newfound fame to help reach and inspire other Black women in wrestling and combat sports.
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