In a thrilling display of athletic prowess, Magomed Ramazanov clinched Bulgaria’s third gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by defeating the renowned Iranian wrestler Hassan Yazdanicharati in the 86 kg freestyle wrestling final.
This remarkable victory marks Bulgaria’s first gold in men’s freestyle wrestling since Valentin Yordanov’s triumph at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Ramazanov, originally from Dagestan, Russia, etched his name in history by joining an elite group of Bulgarian wrestlers. Wrestling remains Bulgaria’s most successful Olympic sport, with a tally of 73 medals, including 18 golds, 32 silvers, and 23 bronzes.
His victory is particularly momentous given the recent success of Semen Novikov, who secured Bulgaria’s first Olympic title in Greco-Roman wrestling in 24 years.
Novikov’s win was Bulgaria’s sole gold in the style since Armen Nazaryan’s triumph at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Adding to Bulgaria’s golden streak, Karlos Nasar also clinched a gold medal with a world record, making Ramazanov’s triumph the second gold for Bulgaria in Paris 2024.
Ramazanov’s path to the gold was paved with intense matches. On Thursday, he showcased his skills by defeating Canadian Alex Moore 12-2, Uzbek wrestler Yavrail Shapiev 4-1, and American Aaron Brooks 4-3, securing his place in the final with a decisive late technique.
Facing Yazdanicharati, a celebrated wrestler with victories in Rio 2016, Tokyo 2021, and multiple world championship titles, Ramazanov demonstrated remarkable dominance.
In the final match, Ramazanov took an early lead, delivering a successful grab that injured Yazdanicharati, necessitating multiple medical timeouts.
Despite the Iranian’s efforts to counter and avoid passivity warnings, Ramazanov maintained his advantage. His effective takedowns and ground work secured a significant 7-1 lead, ultimately clinching the gold as the Iranian struggled in the final moments.
Following his victory, Ramazanov expressed his gratitude and reflected on his achievement. “I am incredibly grateful and still trying to grasp the reality of being at the top. It was my day, and I managed to achieve everything I set out to do.”
“We trained rigorously, and my motivation was exceptionally high, though it was a challenging journey. Facing top-class competitors, I had to overcome my own doubts to succeed. Reflecting on past mistakes, I realized how much this meant to me, especially given the hardships I faced this year, including the loss of my father,” Ramazanov shared.
He also took the opportunity to express his appreciation for receiving Bulgarian citizenship. “I feel amazing being part of the Bulgarian national team. The support I’ve received from people who followed my matches has been overwhelming.”
“My personal trainer, who was moved to tears, deserves a significant share of the credit for this victory, as does the entire national team staff. We’ve proven our hard work has paid off. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Bulgaria for granting me citizenship. Although the country hadn’t seen gold in wrestling for many years, it has always been a wrestling nation,” Ramazanov added.
Bulgaria’s success in Paris continues with additional medals: Boryana Kaleyn earned silver, while Kimia Alizadeh, Bozhidar Andreev, and Javier Ibanez secured bronzes.
Tomorrow, Bilyana Dudova will also compete for a bronze medal, and the rhythmic gymnastics team will aim for further accolades, further bolstering Bulgaria’s impressive Olympic performance.