Paris, Aug 8: Wrestler Sarah Hildebrandt, whom Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was suppose to fight for the Gold medal, has backed the Indian and clarified that weight-cutting is commons in wrestling.
After Vinesh was disqualified for weighing 100 grams more than the highest permissible weight limit for the 50-kg category, Hildebrandt eventually won the Gold medal beating her new opponent Guzman Lopez in the final.
But later, the American Hildebrandt admitted that cutting weight in wrestling is a common practice and she herself follows so many methods to remain under the prescribed weight norms. Hildebrandt also revealed that she herself dropped from 55kg to 50kg two years back to prepare for the Paris Olympics.
Hildebrandt also showered praise on Vinesh for being a great fighter and a nice person. She sympathised with Vinesh for what she faced on Wednesday, the days she was to face Hildebrandt in the 50-kg women's freestyle wrestling title fight.
Hildebrandt, who eventually got the elusive prize after beating Guzman Lopez 3-0 in the championship match, became the fourth US woman to win a wrestling Gold medal.
She revealed she is a big weight cutter herself and felt for Vinesh. She said, "As a big weight cutter myself, yeah, I feel for her. She had an amazing day yesterday, did an insane feat and, you know, I don’t think she saw that happening, ending her Olympics like that. So, for sure, my heart goes out to her. I think she’s an amazing competitor, an amazing wrestler and person."
Hildebrandt further stated that reducing weight is a common practice in wrestling as athletes mostly compete in weight categories lower than their body weight to gain strength advantage.
