[ad_1]
The wrestler who lives and trains in Colorado Springs changed her training focus ahead of the Summer Olympics in Paris.
PARIS, France — U.S. wrestler Sarah Hildebrandt headed into her second Olympics determined to improve on her bronze at the Tokyo Games and came away with a gold medal on Wednesday.
Hildebrandt, who lives and trains in Colorado Springs, was already one of the most decorated athletes in women’s wrestling, with several golds from the Pan American games.
She was the favorite to come away with more hardware in Paris, and she delivered with a 3-0 win over Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, of Cuba, in the gold medal final for women’s freestyle at 50 kg.
Hildebrandt’s training schedule at the U.S. Olympic Training Center leading up to the Games had her wrestling her brother. She told 9NEWS’ Matt Renoux that training with her brother, who wrestled for Central Michigan and Penn State, meant more time to focus on what she needed going into the Paris Games.
“He’s here for me,” she said. “The other girls in the room have themselves to get ready for. I can do all the reps. I can focus on my problems so selfishly. It’s beneficial.”
She said she was focused on the physical and mental side of wrestling.
“I think those details are what separates a bronze and gold medal because everyone works hard, but how comfortable are you up here when it’s you up against another person for a gold medal,” she said.
Her gold medal was Team USA’s second of these Olympics after another wrestler with Colorado ties, Amit Elor, became the youngest American wrestler ever to stand atop the Olympic podium.
[ad_2]
Source link
