SI.com - Olympics

Brian Cazeneuve's
2004 Olympic Medal Picks

Wrestling

U.S. OUTLOOK: No wrestler is a gold medal favorite, but several could win. All three heavyweights -- Kerry McCoy, Rulon Gardner and Toccara Montgomery -- are strong.

Men's Freestyle 55 kg (121 lbs.)

Gold

Cuba

Roberto Montero

Silver

Uzbekistan

Dilshod Mansurov

Bronze

Greece

Amiran Kartanov

This class has had three world champs in three years.

Men's Freestyle 60 kg (132 lbs.)

Gold

Cuba

Yandro Quintana Ribalta

Silver

Azerbaijan

Arif Abdullaev

Bronze

Russia

Murad Umakhanov

Abdullaev's brother Namig won gold at 55 kg in Sydney.

Men's Freestyle 66 kg (145.5 lbs.)

Gold

Bulgaria

Serafim Barzakov

Silver

Ukraine

Elbrus Tadeev

Bronze

Cuba

Serguei Rondon

Russia's Irbek Farniev beat Barzakov in overtime of the 2003 world finals.

Men's Freestyle 74 kg (163 lbs.)

Gold

Russia

Bouvaissa Saitiev

Silver

Iran

Mehdi Hadjizadeh

Bronze

Kazakhstan

Gennady Laliev

Saitiev's younger brother Adam won gold in 2000 at a higher weight class.

Men's Freestyle 84 kg (185 lbs.)

Gold

Russia

Sajid Sajidov

Silver

Cuba

Yoel Romero

Bronze

U.S.

Cael Sanderson

Former college superstar Sanderson lost 4-3 to Sajidov in the 2003 world finals.

Men's Freestyle 96 kg (211.5 lbs.)

Gold

Georgia

Eldar Kurtanidze

Silver

Iran

Ali Reza Heidari

Bronze

U.S.

Daniel Cormier

Cormier's three-month-old daughter, Kaedyn, died in a car accident last year.

Men's Freestyle 120 kg (264.5 lbs.)

Gold

Uzbekistan

Artur Taimazov

Silver

U.S.

Kerry McCoy

Bronze

Russia

Kouramagomed Kouramagomedov

At press time, Russia was still tinkering with its loaded lineup.

Men's Greco-Roman 55 kg (121 lbs.)

Gold

Cuba

Lazaro Rivas

Silver

Poland

Dariusz Jablonski

Bronze

Iran

Hassan Rangraz

Rivas was named international Greco-Roman wrestler of the year in 1999.

Men's Greco-Roman 60 kg (132 lbs.)

Gold

Bulgaria

Armen Nazarian

Silver

Cuba

Roberto Monzon

Bronze

Romania

Eusebiu Diaconu

Nazarian won Armenia's first Olympic gold in '96, then won for Bulgaria in '00.

Men's Greco-Roman 66 kg (145.5 lbs.)

Gold

Georgia

Manuchar Kvirkelia

Silver

Armenia

Vaghinak Galustyan

Bronze

Ukraine

Armen Vardanyan

Oscar Wood knocked out 2000 U.S. Olympian Kevin Bracken at the trials.

Men's Greco-Roman 74 kg (163 lbs.)

Gold

Russia

Varteres Samurgashev

Silver

Cuba

Filiberto Azcuy

Bronze

Ukraine

Volokymyr Shats'kykh

In picking Samurgashev, the world champ in 2002, Russia left behind Alexei Glushkov, 2003 world champ.

Men's Greco-Roman 84 kg (185 lbs.)

Gold

Israel

Gotcha Tsitsiashvilly

Silver

Sweden

Aza Arahamian

Bronze

Georgia

Mukhran Vakhtangadze

Georgian-born Tsitsiashvilly is the fourth Israeli men's world champ in any sport.

Men's Greco-Roman 96 kg (211.5 lbs.)

Gold

Egypt

Karam Gaber

Silver

Turkey

Mehmet Ozal

Bronze

Sweden

Martin Lidberg

Wisconsinite Garrett Lowney, a surprise medalist in Sydney, could be again.

Men's Greco-Roman 120 kg (264.5 lbs.)

Gold

Russia

Khassan Baroev

Silver

Greece

Xenofon Koutsioubas

Bronze

U.S.

Rulon Gardner

Gardner snapped Alexander Karelin's14-year winning streak in Sydney.

Women's 48 kg (105.5 lbs.)

Gold

Ukraine

Irina Melnik

Silver

Japan

Chiharu Icho

Bronze

Canada

Lyndsay Belisle

Chiharu, 22, is two years older than sister Kaori, the 63 kg favorite.

Women's 55 kg (121 lbs.)

Gold

Japan

Saori Yoshida

Silver

Russia

Natalia Golts

Bronze

China

Sun Dongmei

Yoshida's father, Eikatsu, was a national champion in the 1970s.

Women's 63 kg (138.5 lbs.)

Gold

Japan

Kaori Icho

Silver

U.S.

Sara McMann

Bronze

China

Meng Lili

Icho edged McMann 4-3 in overtime to win gold at the 2003 worlds.

Women's 72 kg (158.5 lbs.)

Gold

Japan

Kyoko Hamaguchi

Silver

U.S.

Toccara Montgomery

Bronze

China

Wang Xu

Montgomery's father, Paul, is in an Ohio prison for double murder.


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