CHIBA, Japan — Either way on Tuesday night, Tamyra Mensah-Stock knew there would be a first.
Since women’s wrestling was added to the Summer Olympics in 2004, a Black woman had never won the top prize. But in the light heavyweight gold medal match at Makuhari Messe Hall, Mensah-Stock, a Texas native whose father came to the United States from Ghana at 30, was going up against Blessing Oborududu of Nigeria.
“Oooooh, it was awesome,” Mensah-Stock said afterward with her usual zeal and earnestness.
“Oh my gosh, look at us representing,” she added later. “And I’m like, if one of us wins, we’re making history.