Video: Olympic wrestling match ends with monstrous suplex, opponent thrown off the mat on a stretcher

American female freestyle wrestler Kennedy Blades delivered one of the most dominant performances you’ll see at the 2024 Olympics on Saturday in Paris, France, landing a huge suplex to defeat Romania’s Catalina Axente.

While the combat sports world witnessed the controversial female boxer Imane Khelif win gold on fridayThe action moved quickly from the ring to the mat for women’s freestyle wrestling on Saturday. This included the Olympic debut of Blades, a 20-year-old wrestler from Chicago, Illinois, and one of the brightest lights in women’s wrestling.

Blades dominated Axente from start to finish, finishing her efforts with a ridiculous suplex that left her Romanian opponent seriously injured on the canvas. As Blades celebrated her victory, Olympic officials rushed to Axente’s aid, eventually carrying her away on a stretcher. It’s a rare sight at the Olympics, especially when it comes to women’s freestyle wrestling.

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Kennedy, who defeated 2020 Olympic medalist Adeline Gray at the U.S. Olympic Trials, then defeated Cuba’s Milaimys Marin 4-3 in the quarterfinals. The young star now advances to a semifinal with Kyrgyzstan’s Aiperi Medet Kyzy, whom Blades has beaten head-to-head in a Ranking Series tournament in 2023.