London 2012 wrestling: Japan's Icho wins third gold medal

London: Japan’s Kaori Icho has earned a place in history by becoming the first women’s wrestler to win three Olympic gold medals. Teammate Saori Yoshida could join Icho with a history-making run of her own on Thursday. Yoshida, like Icho, won gold in Athens and in Beijing. She’s also favoured to win her weight class at 55 kilograms in London. Icho and teammate Hitomi Obara gave the Japanese a sweep of the medals on Wednesday night, with Obara beating Mariya Stadnyk of Azerbaijan to win gold in 48 kilograms. Though Yoshida’s considered the top contender at 55 kilograms, she’s not nearly as much of a favourite as Icho and Obara were. [caption id=“attachment_411727” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Japan’s Kaori Icho after winning the gold.AP[/caption] Canadian Tonya Verbeek won silver in 2004, bronze in 2008 and nearly beat Yoshida at the world championships in 2011. Yoshida also lost to Russian Valeria Zholobova in May. If Verbeek is ever going to beat Yoshida on a big stage, London would seem to be the place. In 72 kilograms, Stanka Zlateva Hristova of Bulgaria will attempt to redeem herself for the disappointment she suffered four years ago in Beijing when she settled for silver. Hristova is a five-time world champion but has never won Olympic gold. She’s won the last two world championships, but finished a surprising third at the European championships in 2011 and was a stunning 18th in March. Hristova also drew a tough opening matchup against world bronze medalist Vasilisa Marzaliuk of Belarus. American Ali Bernard was fifth in Beijing and won a bronze at the worlds in Istanbul last year. But she lost in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials to teammate Stephany Lee and only earned a trip to London when Lee tested positive for marijuana. Japan’s entry at 72 kilograms, Kyoko Hamaguchi, is a five-time world champion who won bronze medals in Athens and Beijing and has been a five-time world champion. But Hamaguchi is 34 and is considered the least likely of Japan’s four women’s wrestlers to medal. AP