Tamyra Mensah-Stock Becomes First U.S. Black Woman to Win Gold in Wrestling

By MADELINE COLEMAN via https://www.si.com/

Tamyra Mensah-Stock ended her Olympics debut in style—sporting some shiny new hardware while making history. 

The top-seeded 28-year-old became the first U.S. Black woman to win gold in wrestling after defeating second-seed Blessing Oborududu 68-kilogram freestyle final, 4-1. 

“I knew I could do it,” Mensah-Stock said, according to Team USA. “I knew it would be hard. I prayed I could do it. In my wildest dreams I knew.”

Mensah-Stock opened with a two-point takedown, but then the Nigerian athlete countered with a point of her own. The first period ended with the 4-1 lead for USA, and the second went scoreless.  

Team USA’s star alternated between sobs and jumping with joy as she stood wrapped in the American flag. Mensah-Stock is only the second-ever gold for the U.S. in women’s…

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