International Journalist Olympic Prediction Contest: Day Five Results

At the conclusion of Day 5, the leaderboard started to take shape in TheMat.com's annual International Journalist Pick Contest for Olympic Wrestling. With over half the weights concluded, the high-water mark is seven correct champion predictions followed by a group of six that has five correct champs.

Sixteen were right in selecting Tsugumi Sakurai (JPN) who won 57kg in Women’s freestyle a day after beating 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist Helen Maroulis in the semifinals on the previous day. 

No one took Magomed Romazanov (BUL) who won 86kgs. On Thursday, he beat American Aaron Brooks and in the finals on Friday beat a visibly injured Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI), another Rio Gold Medalist. Brooks (7) and Yazdani (11) were popular selections. 

A big differentiator in the contest came at 57kg in Men’s Freestyle where Rei Higuchi not only continued the impressive week in all styles for Japan, but won perhaps the most anticipated final as he narrowly defeated Spencer Lee (USA). Higuchi was picked by just three journalists while Lee was taken eleven times - the most popular pick of the weight. 

Among the current journalist leaders, only one - FloWrestling’s Jon Kozak - has two in Saturday’s finals as he was the only one to take Japan’s Sakura Motoki (62kg). All the other leaders took two-time reigning World Champion Aisluu Tynybekova (KGZ) who was upset in the semi’s by Irina Koliadenko. 

Every journalist with five or more correct champion picks selected Amir Zare (IRI) who is Saturday’s final at 125kg. 

Current Standings: