For the first time since 1968, the United States of America will go without a Gold Medal in men’s wrestling.
Ohio State legend, Nittany Lion Wrestling Club member and 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist Kyle Snyder fought hard but fell to Bahrain’s Akhmed Tazhudinov, 6-4.
Tazhudinov, a 21-year-old phenom, pounded Snyder 11-0 at last September’s World Championships in Belgrade, which he ended up winning.
Snyder drew first blood after Tazhudinov didn’t score within the 30-second passivity shot clock. But shortly after, Tazhudinov got a two-point takedown to go ahead 2-1 at the break.
A turn with less than a minute left made it 4-1 Tazhudinov, and he added two more points to make it 6-1. Snyder made it 6-2 on a pushout. A takedown with less than six seconds left made it 6-4, but it was too late.
Snyder still has a chance to win what a Bronze Medal, which he’ll compete for early Sunday afternoon. If he’s successful, he’ll be a three-time Olympic Medalist.
