U.S. Veterans World bronze medalists Octavius Bellamy, Terrell Harris and Dan Lovell pose with their medals on Sunday in Budapest. Chris Brown photo

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Three U.S. wrestlers won bronze medals in men’s freestyle on the final day of action at the Veterans World Championships on Sunday.

Claiming bronze medals were:
• Octavius Bellamy, River Forest, Ill., 97 kg in Div. A (35 – 40 years old)
• Dan Lovell, Marshalltown, Iowa, 97 kg in Div. A (35 – 40 years old)’
• Terrell Harris, Chicago, Ill., 76 kg in Div. G (66 – 70 years old)

For Bellamy, it was his second Veterans World bronze of the week, after winning a Greco-Roman bronze medal on Thursday.

"I'm trying to be the best I can be as I grow older --- I'm chasing the challenges. I'm not satisfied because I wanted gold, but I'll take bronze and be back next year," said Bellamy.

Lovell won the other bronze medal in Bellamy’s weight class and age division.

"I'm moving into the college coaching ranks. I’m heading to Jamestown College in North Dakota. I've been working out with the high school kids in Iowa. I train with them and wanted to test myself. That's what it's about, testing yourself," said Lovell.

At 70, Harris is the oldest athlete on Team USA in Budapest. When he’s not wrestling, he runs a management consulting firm in Chicago.

"I wrestle to stay young; to keep the grim reaper away," said Harris.

The United States placed a strong third in the final team standings, and came home with a team trophy for the effort.

Over the three days of freestyle action, Team USA won 18 medals, including individual gold medals by Shirzad Ahmadi of Coventry, Conn. at 63 kg in Div. F (61 – 65 years old), Michael Schyck of Port Charlotte, Fla. at 85 kg in Div. B (41 – 45 years old) and Steven Turgeon of South Windsor, Conn. at 58 kg in Div. E (56 – 60 years old).

The tournament began on Tuesday with three days of Greco-Roman. Team USA also won six Greco-Roman medals.

Special thanks to Chris Brown and Mike Torreiro for sending updates and images from the Veterans World Championships all week long.

VETERANS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 23

U.S. men’s freestyle medalists on Sunday

Div. A (35 – 40 years old)
97 kg – Octavius Bellamy, River Forest, Ill., 3rd
97 kg – Dan Lovell, Marshalltown, Iowa, 3rd

Div. G (66 – 70 years old)
76 kg - Terrell Harris, Chicago, Ill., 3rd

More information will be posted when available