Mariya Stadnik can break world record at Tokyo Olympics

Azerbaijani female wrestler Mariya Stadnik may set a record at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

Coming off her triumph at 50kg at last year's World Championships, Mariya Stadnik will undoubtedly be among the favorites for the gold in Tokyo, where she will be 33. How Stadnik, a two-time Olympic silver medalist, can handle that could determine her fortunes in her fourth career Olympics, according to the official website of the United World Wrestling.

Moreover, 33-year-old Japanese Hiroe Minagawa, who will be close to 34 at next year's Tokyo Olympics, will have the opportunity to break this record. She could have broken the mark even if the Tokyo Games had gone on as scheduled this summer.

Since women's wrestling was added to the Olympic program at the 2004 Athens Games, there have been 18 gold medals awarded. There has been only one teenage champion, and she emerged at that inaugural Olympics for women. Wang Xu from China was 18 years old when she captured the 72kg gold.

At that Olympics, Japanese Kaori Icho won the first of her unprecedented four golds with a victory at 63kg at 20 years, which is still second on the all-time list.

Mariya Stadnik won a bronze medal at 48 kg at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and silver medals at the London and Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will open on July 23 next year, with the closing ceremony taking place on August 8.