Maryland’s Helen Maroulis wins first-ever U.S. gold medal in women’s wrestling
Helen Maroulis, a Rockville native, defeated Japan’s Saori Yoshida 4-1 in the 53-kilogram freestyle final to win the first-ever gold medal for an American women’s wrestler.
- Helen Louise Maroulis of the United States (blue) competes against Saori Yoshida of Japan during the Women’s Freestyle 53 kg Gold medal match on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 2 on August 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- Helen Louise Maroulis of the United States (blue) competes against Saori Yoshida of Japan during the Women’s Freestyle 53 kg Gold medal match on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 2 on August 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- Helen Louise Maroulis of the United States (blue) competes against Saori Yoshida of Japan during the Women’s Freestyle 53 kg Gold medal match on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 2 on August 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- United States’ Helen Louise Maroulis celebrates after beating Japan’s Saori Yoshida for the gold during the women’s wrestling freestyle 53-kg competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
- United States’ Helen Louise Maroulis celebrates after winning the gold medal during the women’s 53-kg freestyle wrestling competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
- United States’ Helen Louise Maroulis celebrates after beating Japan’s Saori Yoshida for the gold during the women’s wrestling freestyle 53-kg competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
- United States’ Helen Louise Maroulis, right, walks away after defeating Japan’s Saori Yoshida for the gold in the women’s wrestling freestyle 53-kg competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)
- Saori Yoshida of Japan reacts after being defeated by Helen Louise Maroulis of the United States during the Women’s Freestyle 53 kg Gold medal match on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 2 on August 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- United States’ Helen Louise Maroulis celebrates after winning the gold medal during the women’s 53-kg freestyle wrestling competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
- United States’ Helen Louise Maroulis celebrates after winning the gold medal during the women’s 53-kg freestyle wrestling competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
- United States’ Helen Louise Maroulis celebrates after winning the gold medal during the women’s 53-kg freestyle wrestling competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
- United States’ Helen Louise Maroulis celebrates after beating Japan’s Saori Yoshida for the gold during the women’s wrestling freestyle 53-kg competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)
- Gold medalist Helen Louise Maroulis of the United States reacts during the medal ceremony after the Women’s Freestyle 53 kg competition on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 2 on August 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- Gold medalist Helen Louise Maroulis of the United States celebrates during the medal ceremony after the Women’s Freestyle 53 kg competition on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 2 on August 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)