Paris Preview: Newcomer Jacobson looks to announce himself to the world in Paris at 87 kg

Leading the field as the No. 1 seed is Ali Cengiz of Turkey, the 2023 World champion. Cengiz’s dominance and technical skill have made him a top competitor, and he will be looking to add an Olympic gold to his two World medals in Paris.

Zhan Beleniuk of Ukraine, a returning World bronze medalist and two-time World champion, is seeded No. 4. He has meaningful experience at two Olympic Games, earning gold in Rio and silver in Tokyo. Nursultan Tursynov of Kazakhstan, the 2023 World fifth-place finisher, is seeded No. 5. Tursynov seeks his first Senior-level medal after five past World Championships plus an appearance at the Tokyo Games. The No. 8 seed is Carlos Munoz of Colombia, a Pan American Olympic Qualifier finalist and 2016 Olympian.

Returning World finalist and two-time World medalist David Losonczi of Hungary highlights the opposite half-bracket as the No. 2 seed. Semen Novikov of Bulgaria, a 2023 World bronze medalist and past European champion, holds the No.3 seed. Novikov is a two-time U23 World champion.

Bachir Sid Azara of Algeria, a finalist at the African/Oceania Olympic Qualifier, is seeded No. 6. Sid Azara competed at the Tokyo Games. He has yet to make a Senior World or Olympic podium but did claim bronze at the U20 level previously. Aleksandr Komarov of Serbia, a European Olympic Qualifier finalist, is seeded No. 7. Komarov seeks his first Senior-level medal after winning five age-group World titles.

87 kg is one of the more experienced weight classes with five of the 16 athletes drawing experience from previous Olympic Games. Sid Azara, Tursynov and Mohamed Metwally of Egypt competed in Tokyo, Munoz Jaramillo competed in Rio, and Beleniuk competed in both sets of Games.

The United States representative at 87 kg is Payton Jacobson. This is Jacobson’s inaugural Senior team, drawing experience from his two age-group World Championships appearances. The 21-year-old is new to the weight class on the international scene. He has the element of surprise on his side as most in the field won’t be familiar with his approach.

The last six competitors rounding out the 87 kg field are Rafig Huseynov of Azerbaijan, Haitao Qian of China, Turpal Bisultanov of Denmark, Lasha Gobadze of Georgia, Alireza Mohmadipiani of Iran and Arkadiusz Kulynycz of Poland.

87 kg GR Seeded Wrestlers
No. 1 Ali CENGIZ (TUR)
No. 2 David LOSONCZI (HUN)
No. 3 Semen NOVIKOV (BUL)
No. 4 Zhan BELENIUK (UKR)
No. 5 Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
No. 6 Bachir SID AZARA (ALG)
No. 7 Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB)
No. 8 Carlos MUNOZ (COL)

87 kg GR Olympians (to be drawn in)
Bachir SID AZARA (ALG)
Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE)
Semen NOVIKOV (BUL)
Haitao QIAN (CHN)
Carlos MUNOZ JARAMILLO (COL)
Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)
Mohamed METWALLY (EGY)
Lasha GOBADZE (GEO)
David LOSONCZI (HUN)
Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI)
Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL)
Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB)
Ali CENGIZ (TUR)
Zhan BELENIUK (UKR)
Payton JACOBSON (USA)

(Local Paris time, six hours ahead of U.S. time zone)

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

11:00 a.m. – Repechage Men’s Greco Roman 77-97 kg and Women’s Freestyle 50 kg

11:30 a.m. - Round of 16 and Quarterfinals - Men’s Greco-Roman 67-87 kg and Women’s Freestyle 53 kg

6:15 p.m. - Semifinals - Men’s Greco-Roman 67-87 kg and Women’s Freestyle 53 kg

7:15 p.m. - Medal Rounds in Men’s Greco-Roman 77-97 kg and Women’s Freestyle 50 kg

Thursday, August 8, 2024

11:00 a.m. - Repechage Men’s Greco Roman 67-87 kg and Women’s Freestyle 53 kg

11:30 a.m. - Round of 16 and Quarterfinals - Men’s Freestyle 57-86 kg and Women’s Freestyle 57 kg

6:15 p.m. - Semifinals - Men’s Freestyle 57-86 kg and Women’s Freestyle 57 kg

7:15 p.m. - Medal Rounds in Men’s Greco-Roman 67-87 kg and Women’s Freestyle 53 kg