BEIJING, CHINA - Medals were awarded in two more weight classes during the second day of competition of the Greco-Roman wrestling competition at the Olympic Games at the China Agricultural University Gymasium on Wednesday.

Capturing the gold medal at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., 2007 World silver medalist Steeve Guenot of France defeated 2003 World silver medalist Kanatbek Begaliev of Krygyzstan in the finals, 3-0, 3-1. Guenot hit a gut wrench in the first period, and had a two-point exposure turn late in the second period for his margin of victory. Guenot celebrated by running around all three mats with a pair of small French flags to the applause of the crowd.

The Olympic champion at 74 kg/163 lbs. was Manuchar Kvirkelia of Georgia, who dominated hometown hero Yongxiang Chang of China, 6-0, 3-0. Kvirkelia won the first period with a high amplitude five-point throw, which instantly ends the period. In the second period, he scored a two-point turn from the par terre position for the winning technique.

In the first 66 kg/145.5 lbs. bronze match, 2003 World silver medalist Armen Vardanyan of Ukraine needed three periods to defeat 2005 World champion Nikolay Gergov, 4-1, 1-2, 6-1. In the deciding third period, Vardanyan scored a two-point turn, then a three-point lift with exposure to close out the victory.

Winning the other bronze medal at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. was Mikhali Siamionau of Belarus, who beat Darkhan Bayakhmetov of Kazakhstan, 2-0, 1-1, 1-1. Siaminonau scored a gutwrench in the first period. In the deciding third period, he defended in the final par terre position to win the 1-1 tie by scoring last.

In the first 74 kg/163 lbs. bronze medal match, 2007 World champion Yavor Yanakiev of Bulgaria stopped Aleh Mihalovich of Belarus, 0-3, 2-0, 2-0. Mihalovich won the first period, with a two-point exposure being the difference. Yanakiev rebounded to take the next two periods, scoring from the top position in par terre both times.

Winning a second medal for France with a bronze medal at 74 kg/163 lbs. was Christophe Guenot, who defeated Peter Bacsi of Hungary, 3-1, 0-4, 4-2. After splitting the first two periods, Guenot scored a three-point hip toss in the final period to take a lead he would not relinquish.

OLYMPIC GAMES
Greco-Roman Wrestling 
At Beijing, China, August 13

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold - Steeve Guenot (France)
Silver - Kanatbek Begaliev (Kyrgyzstan) 
Bronze - Armen Vardanyan (Ukraine)
Bronze - Mikhali Siamionau (Belarus)
5th - Nikolay Gergov (Bulgaria)
5th - Darkhan Bayakhmetov (Kazakhstan)
7th - Sergey Kovalenko (Russia)
8th - Tamas Loerincz (Hungary)
9th - Alain Milian (Cuba)
10th - Li Yanyan (China)
12th - Jake Deitchler (USA)

Gold match - Guenot dec. Begaliev, 3-0, 3-1
Bronze match - Vardanyan dec. Gergov, 4-1, 1-2, 6-1
Bronze match - Siamionau dec. Bayakhmetov, 2-0, 1-1, 1-1

74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Manuchar Kvirkelia (Georgia)
Silver - Yongxiang Chang (China)
Bronze - Yavor Yanakiev (Bulgaria)
Bronze - Christophe Guenot (France)
5th - Aleh Mikhalovich (Belarus)
5th - Peter Basci (Hungary)
7th - Varteres Samourgashev (Russia)
8th - Roman Melyoshin (Kazakhstan)
9th - Konstantin Schneider (Germany)
10th - Arsen Jufalakyan (Armenia)
16th - T.C. Dantzler (USA)

Gold match - Kvirkelia dec. Chang, 6-0, 3-0
Bronze match - Yanakiev dec. Mikhalovich, 0-3, 2-0, 2-0
Bronze match - Guenot dec. Basci, 3-1, 0-4, 4-1