LONDON, England — Canadian Matt Gentry, a part-time member of the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club, took fifth place in the 74kg/163-pound freestyle division at the Olympic Games on Friday (Aug. 10) at ExCeL North Arena 2. Gentry posted a 2-2 record in his second Olympic appearance.
Gentry dropped a close 1-0, 2-0 decision to Russia’s two-time world champion Denis Tsargush in the bronze-medal match. Tsargush scored on a high crotch midway through the first period and secured an exposure out of a late scramble in the second
“I’m proud,” said Gentry. “I definitely gave my everything. It’s our team motto this year. I’m definitely proud of the way I competed and the way I prepared. I’m thankful to all my coaches, family and support because without them I absolutely wouldn’t be here. I’m very blessed.”
Gentry, the 2004 NCAA champion at 157 pounds, narrowly fell to eventual Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs, 2-1, 1-1, in the quarterfinal round. After dropping the first period, Gentry scored first in the second, finishing on an early single leg, but Burroughs converted out of a late scramble to secure the tiebreaker for scoring last. Burroughs took the first period on a pair of takedowns in the first minute before Gentry narrowed the score with a late front headlock.
He claimed the first-round match, 3-0, 1-1, against India’s Narsingh Yadav, using a takedown and gutwrench to win the first period and a last-second pushout in the second.
74 kg – Matt Gentry
First Round – dec. Narsingh Yadav (India), 3-0, 1-1
Quarterfinals – dec. by Jordan Burroughs (USA), 2-1, 1-1
Repechage – dec. Francisco Soler Tanco (Puerto Rico), 4-0, 5-0
Bronze-Medal Match – dec. by Denis Tsargush (Russia), 1-0, 2-0
