ACOG - News - IBM

(31 July 1996; Day 12)

ANGLE Leaves Indelible Mark on Group A Freestyle Wrestling Finals

It's one thing to win an Olympic gold medal.

But when you win your gold medal in a manner so dramatic that not only wrestling fans but American Olympic fans of all stripes remember the moment, it is a very special moment indeed.

The final match of the Group A freestyle wrestling finals Wednesday evening at the Georgia World Congress Center at 100kg between defending world champion Kurt ANGLE of the United States and Abbas JADIDI of the Islamic Republic of Iran had all the fans on the edge of their seats. The two wrestlers attacked and counterattacked for 8 minutes -- 5 minutes of regulation time, 3 more of overtime -- and ended in a dead heat in more ways than the score.

JADIDI had three deep takedown shots in the overtime period, but each time ANGLE managed to circle onto the mat and neutralize the position rather than allow himself to be carried out of bounds and give up a point. ANGLE had the final good shot, which he tried to complete in the final 15 seconds of overtime, to no avail.

The two wrestlers ended the match tied 1-1 on the scoreboard and 2-2 in passivity calls, which are not counted as points but are used to help break ties. With everything even, the three match officials had to determine a winner.

That is when the fireworks started.

JADIDI, who had walked over to the head official's table trying to find out the decision, came out to the mat with his finger raised, a smile on his face, believing he would be declared the winner. The referee walked out to the mat and took each wrestler's hand. JADIDI attempted to raise his own hand, but the referee pulled it down, then raised ANGLE's hand as the referee's decision winner - and the gold medalist.

Almost unable to believe what happened, ANGLE first hugged the referee, then slumped to his knees at the edge of the mat, buried his head in his hands and burst into tears as the crowd screamed in celebration. Across the mat, JADIDI also sank to his knees -- in disbelief.

JADIDI got to his feet and again walked to the official's table, pleading with the officials to change their decision. He had to be persuaded to participate in the awards ceremony to accept his bronze medal.

Even though a tally showed JADIDI had a 6-2 advantage in good shots taken in overtime, ANGLE felt he deserved the win.

"I felt I won," ANGLE said. "I was the aggressor most of the match, and the officials realized that. We both deserved to win. But there's only one gold medal."

JADIDI felt he was robbed of a gold medal.

"I was upset that what they took was mine," JADIDI said. "I felt I won the match by a score of 3-1. I respect (ANGLE) as a human being, but not as an Olympic champion. I feel the gold medal hanging around his neck is mine."

"When you don't score, you leave the match in the hands of the officials," ANGLE said. You don't know what they're going to do. I was prepared to take the win, and I was prepared to take the loss. Obviously, (JADIDI) wasn't prepared to take the loss."

This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Robert Sherrill.


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