Attao Captures Second U20 World Bronze Medal

The first day of competition from the U20 World Championships saw the US Greco team put a pair of wrestlers into the world finals, for the first time in seven years, and two others with medal hopes still alive in repechage. Things took a turn on Tuesday as the two finalists both fell in their respective gold medal matches and the final five Greco wrestlers took the mat and were eliminated from medal contention. 

The best development for the American Greco contingent came at heavyweight as Aden Attao won three matches to claim a bronze medal at 130 kg. Attao joins fellow big man Cohlton Schultz as the most recent American to win multiple world medals in Greco-Roman at the U20 age group. 

Attao started his run through repechage with an 8-0 victory over Puerto Rico’s Ethan Vergara. In his second bout, Attao faced a much stiffer challenge in Turkiye’s Cemal Bakir - a European U20 silver medalist earlier this year. 

Attao got on the board first as Bakir was hit was passivity and the American gained the opportunity to work from par terre. Eschewing a typical gut wrench, Attao sunk in a reverse lock around the front of Bakir, but managed to take him across his back for a set of exposure points and a 3-0 lead. 

Still in the opening period, Bakir used a throw-by to secure a takedown then locked up a gut wrench and turned Attao for a second set of points. He would lead by a 4-3 margin heading into the second period. 

In the final stanza, Attao was deemed passive and Bakir was given the point and the favorable position in par terre. That didn’t result in any additional points and the pair stood up, with Bakir leading 5-3. Attao pressed the action for the remainder of regulation, but was unable to score. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Bakir headbutted Attao. The judge called for a caution and two; however, it was not awarded. The American corner challenged the ruling which was overturned and two points were awarded to Attao. Criteria made him the winner at 5-5. 

For the bronze medal, Attao faced Russian Aleksandr Melekhov who was wrestling under the Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) distinction. Trailing 3-0 in the first period, after two step-out points and a passivity call, Attao pummeled and fought for positioning and each had an over/under tie. It was Attao who was able to win the position and tossed Melekhov for four points, but more importantly, was able to gain a fall. That ensured Attao would win a second world medal in three years. 

Unfortunately, both of the wrestlers who qualified for Tuesday’s gold medal matches, Isaiah Cortez (55 kg) and Otto Black (63 kg), fell via tech in their finals. Both will come away with silver medals. 

The pair, combined with Attao, gives the Americans three medals in Greco-Roman, a number they also achieved in 2019. 

Wednesday marks the first day of competition in women’s freestyle. The 50, 55, 59, 68, and 76 kg weight classes will begin action.