Amit Elor, a 20-year-old wrestling sensation from California, ended a remarkable five-year unbeaten streak by winning the gold medal in the 68-kilogram division at the 2024 Olympics on Tuesday. She triumphed over Kyrgyzstan’s Meerim Zhumanazarova with a 3-0 victory in the final at Arena Champ-de-Mars.

Elor scored two points with a takedown in the first period and earned an additional point when Zhumanazarova was penalized after the activity period expired. She maintained control in the second period, preventing Zhumanazarova from scoring and securing the win.

Elor's victory makes her the youngest U.S. wrestler, male or female, to win an Olympic gold medal. She dominated the competition, reaching the final with an aggregate score of 28-2. Forced to compete in the 68-kg class instead of her usual 72-kg due to Olympic weight class restrictions, Elor made an impressive debut by defeating reigning world champion Turkey’s Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu 10-2.

Elor's coach, Sara McMann, expressed amazement at her dominance, noting, "I'm surprised anybody scored on her at all."

Elor's path to the final included victories over Poland’s Wiktoria Choluj and North Korea’s Sol Gum Pak. She defeated Choluj decisively, leaving her opponent visibly exhausted and demoralized. In the semifinal, Elor quickly dispatched Pak with a takedown and four turns for 10 points in just 27 seconds, achieving "victory by technical superiority."

Elor’s journey to the Olympics began as a 4-year-old tagging along to her brother’s wrestling practices. Despite initial resistance from her early coaches and peers, she excelled in the sport, accumulating numerous championships and developing a reputation as a generational talent.

Elor's resilience extended beyond the wrestling mat. She endured personal tragedies, including the murder of her brother in 2018 and her father's mysterious death in 2022. These experiences taught her to compartmentalize emotions and maintain focus, a skill she applied effectively in her athletic career.

Entering the Paris Olympics, Elor was unbeaten in her last 37 international matches with a cumulative score of 322-16. The switch to the 68-kg weight class required her to cut approximately eight pounds, a challenge she managed with the help of her brother Orry, who prepared nutritious meals.

Elor embraced the Olympic stage with confidence, drawing strength from the crowd's support. "The more people watch me, the more I feel that urge to explode and fight even harder," she said. Her focused determination led her to a historic gold medal victory, securing her place in wrestling's Olympic history.