Parrish, Miracle, and Elor Earn Olympic Quotas for US Women's Freestyle Team

After a day’s worth of Greco-Roman action, the attention at the Pan-American Olympic Games Qualifier turned to women’s freestyle. It was an excellent day for the American women as they went undefeated and qualified all three of the previously unqualified weights for the 2024 Olympics. 

With their performance at the 2023 World Championships combined with today’s results, the United States will send six women to the upcoming Olympic Games. Of course, the actual women who will represent the United States will be determined at the Olympic Team Trials in April. 

Of the American’s who competed today, the lone returning Olympian of this group was Kayla Miracle, a two-time world medalist. Miracle earned her spot in the semifinals with a fall over Cuba’s Maria Santana Garcia in the quarters. She locked up the quota by shutting out two-time age group world medalist Astrid Montero Chirinos of Venezuela. 

The first American to clinch an Olympic berth was 2022 World Champion Dom Parrish at 53 kg. After a tech in the quarterfinals, Parrish got down early in her semifinal bout against Lauren Herin Avila of Cuba. Parrish grabbed a hold of the lead with a four-point throw, followed by two points from a challenge and another from a lost challenge. Late in the match, with Parrish holding onto a one-point lead, Herin Avila was pushing for the winning score. Parrish was able to counter as the final seconds ticked off the clock to win, 9-6, and lock up the quota for the United States. 

Finally, two-time Senior World Champion Amit Elor made her debut at 68 kg. In a rare turn of events, Elor was down early as she was thrown to her back for four points in the semifinal bout. That was all of the offense that Thamires Martins Machado (Brazil) could muster. Elor reeled off ten straight points to win 10-4. 

 

53 kg

Semifinals: Dom Parrish over Laura Herin Avila (Cuba)  9-6

Quarterfinals: Dom Parrish over Antonia Valdes Arriagada (Chile)  10-0
 

62 kg

Semifinals: Kayla Miracle over Astrid Montero Chirinos (Venezuela)  3-0

Quarterfinals: Kayla Miracle over Maria Santana Garcia (Cuba)  Fall

68 kg

Semifinals: Amit Elor over Thamires Martins Machado (Brazil)  10-4

Quarterfinals: Amit Elor over Brenda Sterling Martinez (Cuba)  12-1

Quotas Earned

50 kg - Colombia, Cuba

53 kg - USA, Venezuela

57 kg - Canada, Ecuador

62 kg - Canada, USA

68 kg - USA, Venezuela

76 kg - Canada, Ecuador