Helen Maroulis wins USA's first gold in women's wrestling

Helen Maroulis wins USA&first gold in women&wrestling RIO DE JANEIRO — Helen Maroulis claimed the first wrestling gold for the U.S. women on Thursday in the Rio Games. And she did it by beating one of the all-time greats in the sport. The 24-year-old won in the 53 kg weight class, defeating three-time defending Olympic champion Saori Yoshida, 33, of Japan 4-1. Maroulis dropped to her knees and started bawling. She covered her mouth with her hand in disbelief. Then she climbed into the stands to embrace coaches and friends. Then she celebrated by running around the mat in a circle and wrapping herself in the American flag. Yoshida wept uncontrollably. "I&dreamed of this my whole life," Maroulis said. "I put it on this pedestal." Maroulis had previously won gold at the 2015 world championships in Las Vegas in the 55 kg division. This was her first time competing in an Olympic Games. "I&been dreaming about wrestling Saori for so long," Maroulis said. "She&a hero. She&the most decorated wrestler in the sport. It&such an honor to wrestle her." As a teenager, Maroulis left her home in Maryland and moved to Marquette, where she finished her senior year of high school, just so she could train at the U.S. Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan University. A year ago, she won the world championship at 55 kilograms. But she had to drop weight to be eligible to compete at this Olympic weight class. Which was like trying to chisel bone off a granite statue. She gave up...