Amit Elor, with a mixture of disbelief and joy, clinched the gold medal in the 68-kilogram weight class at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her victory over Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan marked her 41st consecutive win at the international level, stretching back to 2019. Elor’s triumph made her the youngest Olympic gold medalist in U.S. wrestling history, joining the ranks of Helen Maroulis and Tamyra Mensah-Stock as the third American woman to win gold in wrestling.
20-YEAR-OLD AMIT ELOR IS A WORLD CHAMPION.
She wins GOLD in women’s freestyle 68kg wrestling! #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/bsRV0iCyf4
— XM 7D (@xm7dsales) August 7, 2024
Despite her youth, the 20-year-old has demonstrated unparalleled dominance. Over the past two days at Champs-de-Mar Arena, she outscored her opponents 31-2 across four matches. Her first two bouts against reigning world champion Buse Tosun of Turkey and Wiktoria Choluj of Poland were especially impressive, as she matched her opponents’ total points from the last four years in just those two matches.
Elor’s coach, Sara McMann, confidently predicted her athlete’s future success, stating, “She’s going to break all the records.” Elor’s accolades now include an Olympic gold and eight world championships across three age divisions: senior, under-23, and under-20.
Her journey to the top has been filled with challenges. Raised by her mother Elana, who immigrated to the U.S. from Israel, and her late father Yair, Elor faced initial resistance from her family about wrestling, a sport traditionally dominated by boys. Despite her mother’s attempts to steer her towards other activities, Elor’s passion for wrestling prevailed. She started wrestling at the age of 4½ and competed exclusively against boys until she was 10, often feeling isolated due to her success against them.
Amit Elor, 20, wins women’s wrestling gold after dominant showing at Paris Olympics pic.twitter.com/Dixgcyjvln
— nadeem abdullah (@onlydeadareN) August 7, 2024
Elor’s mental fortitude has been as impressive as her physical prowess. She admitted to struggling with self-doubt and negative thoughts about her abilities, despite her numerous accomplishments. This internal battle made her victories all the more remarkable.
Clarissa Chun, a former Olympic bronze medalist and current head coach of Iowa’s women’s wrestling program, described Elor as a “young GOAT” destined for the Hall of Fame. McMann echoed this sentiment, highlighting Elor’s ability to consistently outperform her peers, often without conceding any points.
Elor’s success at the Paris Olympics required her to adapt significantly, particularly in terms of her diet. Normally competing at 72 kilograms, she had to drop down to 68 kilograms, a challenging process over several months. Nevertheless, she continued to dominate, proving her versatility and resilience.
🥇👏 She’s done it! 20-year-old All-American sensation 🇺🇸 Amit Elor dominates to win Gold in Freestyle Wrestling (68kg) at the 2024 Paris Olympics! Coached by the illustrious Sara McMann, 20 years after McMann’s own Silver in Athens. What a moment! #WMMA #Olympics pic.twitter.com/t4tRuBsUJ1
— Women’s MMA Rankings (@WMMARankings) August 6, 2024
Key Points:
- Amit Elor, 20, won gold in the 68-kilogram weight class at the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking her 41st consecutive international win.
- She became the youngest Olympic gold medalist in U.S. wrestling history.
- Elor dominated her opponents, outscoring them 31-2 over four matches.
- Raised by her immigrant mother from Israel, she overcame initial family resistance and self-doubt to excel in wrestling.
- Coaches and peers regard her as a future Hall of Famer, showcasing her unparalleled dominance in the sport.
Fallon Jacobson – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
