Amit Elor becomes youngest American to win gold medal in wrestling
Photo by LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images
Amit Elor is now an Olympic gold medalist.
The 20-year-old phenom from California wrapped up a dominant run through the 68kg weight class with another shutout victory after beating Meerim Zhumanazarova from Kyrgyzstan with a 3-0 score in the final match from Tuesday’s action at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
The win crowns Elor as the youngest American to ever win a gold medal in wrestling as she surpasses Kyle Snyder, who claimed that title after he won gold back in 2016. Snyder
Snyder is actually still competing as he represents the United States at 97kg with his competition starting on Saturday.
As for Elor, she was overwhelmed with emotion following the win as she celebrated with her coach, former UFC title challenger Sara McMann, who was the first American woman to ever win a medal at the Olympics after she claimed a silver at the 2004 games in Athens.
“I just couldn’t believe that I became an Olympic champion,” Elor said just moments after her win. “This has been my dream for my whole entire life. It’s hard to believe. It’s such a full circle moment. For me, the past few months, especially after I made the Olympic team, I received so many message from younger girls telling me I was their inspiration.
“I really hope that they can chase after their dreams just like I did and they won’t give up either.”
Elor stormed through the competition at 68kg, which was a new home for her after winning two World Championships at 72kg. Over her four matches on the way to the gold medal, Elor outscored her competition 31-2.
“I’m sharing this medal with my whole entire family,” Elor said. “I’m sharing this medal with my whole entire country. Becoming an Olympic champion is one of the most difficult things in the whole entire world.”
The hard work paid off as Elor becomes the first American to win a medal in wrestling at the 2024 Olympics with her teammate Sarah Hildebrandt seeking to join her when she wrestles for gold on Wednesday.
