Sarah Hildebrandt, a 2020 Olympic bronze medalist and a four-time world medalist in the 50 kg category, has advanced to the finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she will vie for a gold medal on Wednesday. Below is a summary of her performance in the tournament so far.
In the Round of 16, Hildebrandt faced Algeria’s Ibtissem Doudou, securing a dominant 10-0 technical fall. She initiated her offense early with a takedown, quickly transitioning to her signature leg lace technique for four straight turns, sealing her victory.
During the quarterfinals, Hildebrandt competed against Ziqi Feng of China. After giving up an early takedown, Hildebrandt quickly reversed the situation, trailing only 2-1 before taking control of the match with another takedown. The first period ended with her ahead 5-4, and although the second period saw both wrestlers engaged mainly in handfighting, Hildebrandt extended her lead to 7-4 with a well-timed go-behind. With no further scoring from Feng, Hildebrandt secured her spot in the medal round.
In the semifinals, she faced Otgonjargal Dolgorjav of Mongolia. Hildebrandt started strong with a takedown and then capitalized on a late scramble to add another point, leading 5-0 at halftime thanks to a penalty point awarded to Dolgorjav. Despite Dolgorjav’s attempts to penetrate Hildebrandt’s defense in the second period, she maintained her advantage and emerged victorious, confirming her position in the finals.
Hildebrandt’s opponent in the gold medal match will be Yusneylis Guzman from Cuba. Originally, Hildebrandt was slated to wrestle India’s Vinesh Phogat, who made headlines by defeating four-time world and Olympic champion Yui Susaki in round one. However, Phogat was unable to make weight on Wednesday morning, prompting the change in Hildebrandt’s opponent. Guzman has not yet earned a medal at the world or Olympic levels, but Hildebrandt holds a previous victory over her, winning 10-0 at the 2023 Pan-Am Championships. That match highlighted Hildebrandt’s prowess, as she quickly dominated, securing two takedowns and a technical fall in just over two minutes.
Hildebrandt is the favorite heading into the gold medal match against Guzman in Paris.