Darian Cruz went 3-0 at the Pan-Am Olympic Games Qualifier to punch his ticket to the 2024 Olympic Games. Cruz, an NCAA Champion for Lehigh in 2017, represents Puerto Rico on the international scene and has competed two times at the World Championships.
In the Olympic qualifying match, Cruz surprisingly defeated Team USA’s Zane Richards 2-2 on criteria. Before that match, Richards held a 3-0 record against Cruz on the senior level. However, in their match on Friday, Cruz and Richards wrestled a highly defensive bout with Cruz scoring a step out with just seven seconds left in the match to win in dramatic fashion. You can watch that match below as well as a brief explanation of what Team USA must do now to qualify 57 kg for the Olympics.
Live Now · Feb 28-Mar 1, 4:00 PM UTC
Watch Darian Cruz’s win over Zane Richards in the semifinals to qualify for the Olympics:
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How Can Team USA Qualify 65 kg For The Olympics?
While the win was huge for Darian Cruz, it also prevented Team USA from qualifying 57 kg for the 2024 Olympics at the Pan-Am Qualifier. Now, Team USA only has one chance remaining to qualify the weight – The World Olympic Games Qualifier taking place in Istanbul, Turkiye on May 9-12. Team USA will send the winner of the Olympic Trials at 57 kg to that event and whoever is the representative will have to place in the top 3 to qualify for the Olympics.
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