(Update) Wrestling: Final 3 Golds Decided

From the Associated Press:

Revazi Mindorashvili of Georgia defeated Russian gold-medal favorite in an emotional semifinal match, then rallied in the finals to win the Olympic freestyle wrestling 84-kilogram (185-pound) championship.

Mindorashvili, the 2005 world champion, lost the first period 3-2 but came back to dominate the final two periods against Yusup Abdusalomov of Tajikstan 3-0 and 4-0.

In the 96kg class, Shirvani Muradov, taking the place of one of the world's most successful wrestlers over the last four years, defeated Taimuraz Tigiyev of Kazakhstan, 1-0, 1-0, for the gold medal.

The 23-year-old Muradov beat out 2004 Olympic champion and three-time reigning world champion Khadshimourad Gatsalov to make Russia's Olympic team. Gatsalov had won every major world title since 2004.

The bronze medal winners were George Gogshelidze of Georgia -- which got a gold medal from Revazi Mindorashvili at 84 kg (185 pounds) minutes before -- and Khetag Gazyumov of Azerbaijan.

Daniel Cormier, the American who was third in the world last year, was hospitalized for dehydration problems from his weight cut and did not compete.

Artur Taymazov of Uzbekistan has repeated as champion at 120 kilograms. Taymazov denied Russia its seventh wrestling gold medal in Beijing, defeating Bakhityar Akhmedov 3-0, 1-0.

By Tracee Hamilton  |  August 21, 2008; 7:33 AM ET  | Category:  Wrestling
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