57 kg – Spencer Lee
Semifinals – WIN Rakhat Kalzhan (Kazakhstan), tech. fall, 10-0
As the first Olympic qualification match of the evening session, Lee wasted no time in getting the crowd fired up. He connected on an outside fireman’s carry, dumping Kalzhan to his side, all the while locking up a lethal trapped-arm gut wrench. Four turns later and the rest, as they say, is history. Lee is on to Paris, with a 10-0 technical fall in 35 seconds.
Note: Kalzhan is two-time Asian Championships medalist.
Quarterfinals – WIN Vladimir Egorov (Macedonia), tech. fall, 12-2
Lee struck fast with a masterful inside arm/over-collar tie drag for a takedown, which he converted directly into a trapped-arm gut wrench. Picking up two turns from the trapped-arm, Lee was exposed himself on one of the turns, but floated his hips right back on top for a third set of exposure points, taking an 8-2 lead. Lee wrapped the match up with two quick leg laces to secure a 12-2 technical fall in 54 seconds.
Note: Egorov is a former Russian wrestling for Macedonia. He was a European champion in 2022. At the European Olympic Games Qualifier in Baku, Azerbaijan, Egorov lost to Aliabbas Rzazade of Azerbaijan in the semifinal/Olympic qualifying match, 4-3.
