Paris Preview: From retirement to Olympian, Rau takes aim at elusive medal

Leading the group as the No. 1 seed at 97 kg is Artur Aleksanyan of Armenia, the 2023 Senior World silver medalist. Aleksanyan’s remarkable track record establishes him as a frontrunner in Paris. He will be aiming to add a second Olympic gold to his impressive resume that includes three Olympic medals, four World titles and seven World medals.

Two-time age-group World champion Abubakr Khaslakhanau, competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete, is seeded No. 2.

Mohammadhadi Saravi of Iran, a 2023 Senior World bronze medalist, holds the No. 3 seed. Saravi has secured three medals in four Senior World Championship appearances, including gold in 2021, making him one to watch in Paris. He also competed at the 2021 Tokyo Games.

Gabriel Rosillo Kindelan of Cuba, the 2023 Senior World champion and Tokyo Olympian, is seeded No. 4. Entering Paris, Rosillo Kindelan is considered the gold medal favorite.

Two-time age-group World champion Arvi Savolainen of Finland, who secured his spot through the World Olympic Games Qualifier, is seeded No. 5. Mindaugas Venckaitis of Lithuania, a European Olympic Qualifier finalist, is seeded No. 6.

Two-time World bronze medalist Mihail Kajia of Serbia was a late addition to the field following gan injury withdrawal from Czech Republic’s Artur Omarov. Kajia, a 2020 Olympian, slots in as the No. 7 seed.

Rounding out the top eight seeds is Kevin Mejia Castillo of Honduras, a Pan American Olympic Qualifier finalist. His journey to the Olympics has been marked by significant achievements, as he has competed at 13 World tournaments between all age-groups. Mejia is one of the more experienced athletes in the field.

The United States will be represented by Joe Rau, a first-time Olympian that intends to make his mark on the Paris stage. Rau has been a part of three Senior World teams and is a three-time Pan American Championships gold medalist. He came out of retirement in 2023 to make a run at the Olympic Games.

Others in the field are Fadi Rouabah of Algeria, Mohamed Gabr of Egypt, Roberti Kobliashvili of Georgia, Lucas Lazogianis of Germany, Uzur Dzhuzupbekov of Kyrgyzstan, Seungjun Kim of South Korea and Rustam Assakalov of Uzbekistan. Kobliashvili and Assakalov are two-time World medalists with past Olympic experience. Dzhuzupbekov was an Olympian in Tokyo.

97 kg GR Seeded Wrestlers

No. 1 - Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)

No. 2 - Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN)

No. 3 - Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI)

No. 4 - Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB)

No. 5 - Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN)

No. 6 - Mindaugas VENCKAITIS (LTU)

No. 7 - Mihail KAJIA (SRB)

No. 8 - Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON)

97 kg GR Olympians (to be drawn in)

Fadi ROUABAH (ALG)

Mohamed GABR (EGY)

Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO)

Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER)

Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)

Seungjun KIM (KOR)

Joe RAU (USA)

Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB)

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

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

11:00 a.m. - Repechage Men’s Greco Roman 60-130 kg and Women’s Freestyle 68 kg

11:30 a.m. - Round of 16 and Quarterfinals - Men’s Greco-Roman 77-97 kg and Women’s Freestyle 50 kg

6:15 p.m. - Semifinals - Men’s Greco-Roman 77-97 kg and Women’s Freestyle 50 kg

7:15 p.m. - Medal Rounds in Men’s Greco Roman 60-130 kg and Women’s Freestyle 68 kg

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