Having already won one Olympic gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling competition four years ago, Russian Roman Vlasov arrived in Rio heavily favored to repeat.
Sunday he did just that, defeating Mark Overgaard Madsen of Denmark on points in the gold medal match of the 75 kg division. The reigning world champion, Vlasov has two gold medals to his credit with his coach, Alexander Karelin, having three Olympic gold medals in Greco-Roman wrestling of his own (1988, 1992 and 1996). Madsen’s silver is the first wrestling medal for Denmark since 1948, and this is his first Olympic medal after failing to reach the stand in either 2008 or 2012.