PERM, Russia - American Gerald Ponce won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling on Friday at the Veterans World Championships.

Ponce, of Antioch, Calif., won the championship in Division E (56 years and older) at 130 kg/286 lbs. Earlier in the week, Ponce earned a silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Veterans World Championships.

American John Short of Ogema, Minn., added a silver medal in freestyle in Division B (41-45 years old) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.

2007 Veterans World champion Ron Cole of Auburn, Wash., won a bronze medal in Division E at 97 kg/213.75 lbs.

Also for the U.S., Shirzad Ahmadi of Coventry, Conn., won a bronze medal in Division E at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.

John Hughes of Peoria, Ariz., won a bronze medal in Division E at 69 kg/152 lbs.

The freestyle competition is scheduled to continue on Saturday.

More information and results will be provided once it becomes available.