She defeated five-time World Champion Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan, 3-1, 1-1, 1-0 in the finals at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Iris SmithSmith scored a decisive three-point takedown midway through the first period using a two-on-one that finished with a scramble and exposure. Hamaguchi was able to score her lone point of the period with a late takedown off of another scramble.
In the second period, Smith again got on the board using a two-on-one and driving Hamaguchi out-of-bounds. Hamaguchi forced a third period with a one-point double leg to even the score at 1-1 and win the period.
Smith gained the match-winning point 50 seconds into the third period when both wrestlers scrambled out-of-bounds. After a video review, the referee awarded Smith the point that decided the match. For the next minute, Smith kept the pressure on as Hamaguchi wasn't able to create any offense.
Smith advanced to the gold medal match with a strong performance in a semifinal win over Anita Schaetzle of Germany, 3-1, 2-0.
Schaetzle jumped out to an early one-point lead when she scored 29 seconds into the match as the wrestlers scrambled for position. Smith next scored two consecutive points, driving the German off the mat with a series of double leg attacks. Smith sealed the period with a late one point go-behind.
In the second period, Smith controlled the center of the mat and earned two points countering Schaetzle's leg attacks. The two points were enough to send Smith to the gold medal championship, securing her first ever world medal.
In the quarterfinals, Smith shut out Agnieszka Wieszczek of Poland, 2-0, 6-0. Smith scored both of her points midway through the first period with back-to-back takedowns.
In the second period, Smith scored a three point takedown at the halfway point and then followed up with a go-behind for one point at the 1:44 mark. She finished off the period with a two-point counter exposure at the final whistle.
Smith was competing in her second World Championships, winning her first medal. She is a member of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP).
Katie DowningThere was no scoring through nearly two minutes of the first period, until Downing put six points on the board in the last 17 seconds. At 1:43, Downing scored on a reverse headlock trip for three points and a hold for one point. She then closed out the period with a two point power half.
Downing quickly got on the board in the second period with a one-point double leg followed up by two exposure points. She closed out the period and the match on a three point head lock and a hold for one, nearly earning a fall.
Downing was defeated earlier in the day when she lost a tight match to Martine Dugrenier of Canada, 1-0, 1-0 in the quarterfinals. Dugrenier scored both of her points on single leg attacks; driving Downing out of bounds in the first period and finishing the takedown in the second. In both periods, Downing was unable to create an offensive attack.
When Dugrenier advanced to the gold medal finals, Downing was sent to the repechage (wrestlebacks) and a chance for the bronze medal. In her repechage match, Downing battled to a tight 0-2, 1-0, 3-1 win over Eri Sakamoto of Japan.
Downing lost the first period when Sakamoto scored two exposure points off of a scramble from the clinch. After a short video review of the move, the points were awarded to Sakamoto.
Downing scored the lone point of the second period when the referee called a caution against Sakamoto for inactivity. Downing fended off the Japanese to force a third and decisive period.
In the third period, Downing scored one point on a go-behind at the midway point and added a two point gut wrench to secure the victory. Sakamoto's only score came on a late reversal for one.
The men's Greco-Roman competition started with competition in one weight class, the 55 kg/121 lbs. division.
In the evening session, Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) was eliminated from the competition when his second round opponent, Istvan Majoros of Hungary failed to reach the gold medal finals. Durlacher won his first match of the morning session, but then lost to Majoros in the second round.
QUOTES:
67 kg/147.5 lbs. � Katie Downing, (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids):
"I didn't come here for bronze at all. It's pretty hard. I had to wrestle back for it, something I did not want to do. Later, I've have more perspective. Right now, I know this is not what I came for."
(about the match with Degrenier of Canada)
"I have to figure something out. I worked on my high single and double leg defense a lot. She is just strong. It's not pretty technique, very simple. But it works. I have to never let it get there. She can't score singles on me if I am in on her leg. I'll figure it out next year."
"I didn't have any choice but to wrestle back. I guess there is a part I had to turn on the switch. After I lost, I didn't feel like wrestling. I wanted to go home. I had to take the disappointment and use it to make me want to win more. In the match against Japan, where it seemed neither of us wanted to be there, there was a point in the third period where we were both sore and tired. She gave up a little and I knew I had it."
"This is just the first time I've been here. I have dreamed of this so long. I wasn't nervous or stressed. I was excited to be here. I just knew I would win it. This is the beginning of my dream. This is the first time I'm here. I have imagined for so long what it would feel like. When I got to feel it for real, it was a neat experience."
72 kg/158.5 lbs. � Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army):
"It feels so good. I was raised religious. Before my match, I prayed. I feel like through Him all things are possible. I totally believe in miracles. I wrestled every match to the best of my ability. I didn't care who wrestled. I went out and did my best. And it worked."
"Before the finals match, I got a good warmup in. I wrestled her at the World Cup five months ago. She beat me. But I felt I could beat her. I decided to do my own thing. (U.S. Army coach) Shon Lewis helped me out to get prepared. My strategy was to keep moving. (National coach) Terry Steiner had everything ready, and he told me what to do. It worked."
"I think my gold was important to the team. I wanted to hear the national anthem and see my flag raised. I love my country. It motivated me. I wanted to get my country another gold medal."
"When it was over, I looked at Shon and Terry's faces. When I saw them, I thought, �I guess I won.' I was instantly thanking God. I was so pumped and teary eyed."
(about starting her wrestling career in Georgia)
"Every little wrestler's dream is to go to the Olympics or win the World gold. My first coach, Anthony White, always told me I could do it. At the time, I had posters of (four-time World champion) Tricia Saunders. I wanted to be like Tricia Saunders. Now it is my turn."
USA Wrestling National Women's Coach Terry Steiner:
"It was a huge comeback. We knew Katie Downing and Iris Smith were capable of medals and capable of winning the tournament. Being capable and doing it are different things. A gold medal is great to get. Iris went for the gold and ran with it. She looked great in all the training camps. It was well deserved."
"As a team, we had matches that showed character. Sara McMann, Katie Downing and Sally Roberts showed great character. They had an opportunity to wrestle back after their losses and they did it. They fought through it. We have two teams ahead of us who are not slowing down. We need to move forward however. But this is a great place to start going forward to 2008."
"In all of Iris' matches, she never beat herself. This was something she had to work on. She kept good position, nothing fancy, just good solid wrestling. She stayed focused."
"This was a huge step for Katie Downing. She wanted a gold medal. It started by making the team and beating a seven-time World medalist. She did a great job here. She is a very focused and disciplined individual. Good things happen to those who work. This is just a start for Katie Downing."
55 kg/121 lbs. - Lindsey Durlacher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC):
"I felt good in my first match. Things were working for me. I created the right angles. I got my confidence real high, going against the Olympic champion in his own country. I knew it would be a dogfight. I would make it go my way. I didn't get that done. I'm upset about that. I tried to force a few things against the Olympic champion. This is my first World Championships. I got overzealous a bit and it cost me."
Steve Fraser, USA Wrestling National Greco-Roman Coach:
"His first match against the Italian, he wrestled smart and he stayed focused. We were happy with that first match. The second match, he made one mistake. He tried to gutwrench the guy with two seconds on the clock and gives up points. You take that away and Lindsey wins the period. The guy is the Olympic champion. He is tough. Lindsey wrestled tough in the second period, and had a good defense. You can't make mistakes against the Olympic champion. He was ready. He prepared like we wanted him to. He worked hard, and was focused, ready and confident. Lindsey was well prepared today."
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