Henry Cejudo captures wrestling gold

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BEIJING -- Henry Cejudo, the son of undocumented Mexican immigrants, became the first American to win a gold medal in freestyle wrestling in 16 years when he beat Japan’s Tomohiro Matsunaga to win the 55-kilogram (121 pounds) freestyle final on Tuesday.

A joyful Cejudo broke down into tears on the mat, then took a victory lap around the China Agricultural University Gymnasium.

‘This is the American dream,’ said a joyful Cejudo, still wrapped in the U.S. flag. ‘The United States is the greatest country in the world.’

Cejudo, who had to come from behind simply to win the U.S. Olympic trials, also trailed in all three of his preliminary matches here but he never trailed in the final. Although he and Matsunaga were tied, 2-2, after the first period, Cejudo was declared the winner because he had the highest-scoring move, a two-point takedown. Cejudo then jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the second period, winning easily.

-- Kevin Baxter