Date of competition: Saturday, Aug. 11

Russia’s Besik Kudukhov has emerged as one of the best pound-for-pound wrestlers on the planet.

Kudukhov has won the last three World freestyle titles at this weight class after winning a 2007 World title at 55 kg/121 lbs. He was third in the 2008 Olympics at 55 kilos. He continues to wrestle well after winning the Russian Nationals this year.

Kudukhov beat surprise finalist Franklin Gomez of Puerto Rico in the 2011 World finals. Gomez was an NCAA champion for Michigan State and trains with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club in State College, Pa. Gomez followed by winning the Pan American Games in October 2011.

Japan’s Kenichi Yumoto and Kazakhstan’s Dauren Zhumagazyyev claimed World bronze medals in 2011. Yumoto won an Olympic bronze medal in 2008.

American Coleman Scott is on a roll after making the U.S. Olympic Team.

Scott won April’s Olympic Trials before defeating past World Team members Reece Humphrey and Shawn Bunch in an Olympic Team Wrestle-off in June in New York City.

Scott went undefeated this year in the World Cup, knocking off Yumoto in that event. Scott is an aggressive, offensive-minded wrestler who could contend for a medal in London.

Azerbaijan’s Zalimhkan Huseynov has won World silver and bronze medals in this Olympic cycle, and is capable of being a big factor at the 2012 Olympics if he competes. Azerbaijan’s Togrul Asgarov won the European Olympic qualifier this year.

Ukraine’s Vasyl Fedoryshin is another serious medal threat at 60 kilos. He was second in the 2010 Worlds and won a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics.

Cuba’s Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez looked superb in winning March’s Pan American Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament in Florida. He is an explosive and dangerous wrestler who beat Bunch en route to winning the title in that event.

The U.S. is looking for its first World-level medal in this weight class since Mike Zadick won a World silver medal in 2006.

EXPECTED OLYMPIC ENTRIES
60 kg/132 lbs.

1st at 2011 World Championships – Besik Kudukhov (Russia)
2nd at 2011 World Championships – Franklin Gomez (Puerto Rico)
3rd at 2011 World Championships – Kenichi Yumoto (Japan)
3rd at 2011 World Championships – Dauren Zhumgaziev (Kazakhstan)
5th at 2011 World Championships – Didier Pais (France)
5th at 2011 World Championships – Malkhaz Zarkua (Georgia)
2012 European Olympic qualifier champion – Togrul Asgarov (Azerbaijan)
2012 European Olympic qualifier runner-up – Anatoli Guidea (Bulgaria)
2012 Asian Olympic qualifier champion – Masoud Esmailpour (Iran)
2012 Asian Olympic qualifier runner-up – Yogeshwar Dutt (India)
2012 Pan American Olympic qualifier champion – Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez (Cuba)
2012 Pan American Olympic qualifier runner-up – Guillermo Torres Cervantes (Mexico)
2012 Africa/Oceania Olympic qualifier champion – Hassan Ibrahim Madani (Egypt)
2012 Africa/Oceania Olympic qualifier runner-up – Farzad Tarash (Australia)
Olympic Qualifier #1 champion – Jong Myong Ri (North Korea)
Olympic Qualifier #1 runner-up – Seung-Chul Lee (Korea)
Olympic Qualifier #1 bronze medalist – Coleman Scott (United States)
Olympic Qualifier #2 champion – Vasyl Fedoryshin (Ukraine) 
Olympic Qualifier #2 runner-up – Tim Schleicher (Germany)

RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS

2011 World Championships
60 kg/132 lbs. – Gold – Besik Kudukhov (Russia); Silver – Franklin Gomez (Puerto Rico); Bronze – Kenichi Yumoto (Japan); Bronze – Dauren Zhumagazyyev (Kazakhstan); 5th – Didier Pais (France); 5th – Malkhaz Zarkua (Georgia); 7th – Alejandro Valdez Tobier (Cuba); 8th – Zalimkhan Huseynov (Azerbaijan); 9th – Reece Humphrey (USA); 10th – Rizvan Gadzhiev (Belarus)

2010 World Championships
60 kg/132 lbs. – Gold - Besik Kudukhov (Russia); Silver – Vasyl Fedoryshin (Ukraine); Bronze – Sayed Morad Mohammadi (Iran); Bronze – Zalimhkan Huseynov (Azerbaijan); 5th – Ulan Nadyrbek Uulu (Mongolia); 5th – Ersin Cetin (Turkey); 7th – Alejandro Valdes (Cuba); 8th – Seung-Chul Lee (Korea); 9th – Malkhaz Kurdiani (Georgia); 10th – Artur Arakelyan (Armenia)

2009 World Championships
60 kg/132 lbs. – Gold - Besik Kudukhov (Russia); Silver - Zalimkhan Huseynov (Azerbaijan); Bronze - Dilshod Mansurov (Uzbekistan); Bronze - Vasyl Fedoryshin (Ukraine); 5th - Shogo Maeda (Japan); 5th - Sayed Mohammadi (Iran); 7th - Artur Arakelyan (Armenia); 8th - Maikel Perez Gonzales (Cuba); 9th - Bazar Bazarguruev (Kyrgyzstan); 10th-  Anatolie Guidea (Bulgaria)

2008 Olympic Games
60 kg/132 lbs. – Gold – Mavlet Batirov (Russia); Silver – Vasyl Fedoryshyn (Ukraine); Bronze – Kenichi Yumoto (Japan); Bronze – Seyed Morad Mohammadi (Iran); 5th – Bazar Bazarguruev (Krygyzstan); 5th – Zelimkhan Huseinov (Azerbaijan); 7th – Muzad Ramazanov (Macedonia); 8th – Yandro Quintana (Cuba); 9th – Yogeshwar Dutt (India); 10th – Saeed Azarbayjani (Canada)

2007 World Championships
60 kg/132 lbs. – Gold - Mavlet Batirov (Russia); Silver – Anatolie Guidea (Bulgaria); Bronze – Bazar Bazarguruev (Kyrgyzstan); Bronze – Sahit Prizreni (Albania); 5th – Tevfik Odabasi (Turkey); 5th – He Quin (China); 7th – Samat Khakupov (Kazakhstan); 8th – Murat Ramazanov (Macedonia); 9th – Themis Iakovidis (Greece); 10th – Vasil Fedorishyn (Ukraine)

2006 World Championships
60 kg/132 lbs. – Gold – Seyed Morad Mohammadi (Iran); Silver – Mike Zadick (USA); Bronze – Noriyuki Takatsuka (Japan); Bronze – Mavlet Batirov (Russia); 5th – Vasil Fedoryshin (Ukraine); 5th – Dutt Yogeshwar (India); 7th – David Pogosian (Georgia); 8th – Aliaksandr Karnitski (Belarus); 9th – Yandro Quintana (Cuba); 10th – Farzad Tarash (Australia)

2005 World Championships
60 kg/132 lbs. – Gold - Alan Dudaev (Russia); Silver - Yandro Quintana (Cuba); Bronze - Martin Berberyan (Armenia); Bronze - Mehdi Mohammadi (Iran); 5th - Levan Chabradze (Georgia); 5th - Oyunbileg Purevbaatar (Mongolia); 7th - Jae-Myung Song (Korea); 8th - Giuvi Sissaouri (Canada); 9th - Gergo Woller (Hungary); 10th - Tevfik Odabasi (Turkey)

2004 Olympic Games
60 kg/132 lbs. – Gold - Yandro Quintana (Cuba); Silver -Maoud Jokar (Iran); Bronze - Kenji Inoue (Japan); 4th - Vasyl Fedoryshin (Ukraine); 5th -Giuvi Sissaouri (Canada); 6th -David Pogosian (Georgia); 7th - Jung Young Ho (Korea); 8th - Lubos Cikel (Austria); 9th - Damir Zakhartdinov (Uzbekistan); 10th - Mourad Oumakhanov (Russia)