Hassan Yazdani’s third Olympic berth has been successful so far. That is until he made it to a thrilling 86kg final against Bulgaria’s Magomed Ramazanov. The Iranian wrestler has always made it to every major competition finals throughout his illustrious career. At the 2016 Rio Summer Games, he defeated Aniuar Geduev in the 74kg category. However, he couldn’t defend his title 4 years later, settling for gold after losing to David Taylor in the 86kg category. This time around, though, he had his sights set on the coveted gold.

The wrestler made his way into the Champ-de-Mars Arena amidst a deafening cheer. While fans were expecting a thrilling match, no one could’ve prepared for the twist that followed. Shortly after the gold medal match commenced, Yazdani seemed to be struggling with pain. Even though he tried pushing through, he eventually bowed out seconds before the clock stopped. Having to settle for silver yet again, his redemption arc remains unfinished. He lost to the Bulgarian 7-1. However, fans couldn’t help but gush over his courageous display.

Hassan Yazdani stepped onto the wrestling mat, looking fit as a fiddle. But after executing his signature roll, things seemed to look grim for the wrestler. Having injured his right shoulder, the 29-year-old struggled throughout, even asking for medical assistance. But nothing seemed to work. He eventually resorted to using only his left arm for the remainder of the match until the pain became unbearable. With just 10 seconds on the clock, he decided to tap out.

Hassan Yazdani hurt his shoulder at the 2023 Asian Games and had to undergo shoulder surgery. However, seeing how he wanted to another shot at Olympic glory, the wrestler resumed training in May this year. His Olympic campaign started with a bang when he faced Alexander Lawrence in his first match. He dominated throughout, clinching a 10-0 victory and a spot in the quarterfinals. Next up, he faced Dauren Khalidovich Kurugliev, but he defeated him by 9-4. The Iranian then beat M N Amine by 7-1 in the semi-finals, moving one step closer to his Olympic dream.

The wrestling community sings praises of Hassan Yazdani’s resilience

Hassan Yazdani’s Summer Games dreams were brutally shattered on August 9, but his fans helped him pick up the pieces on X. One fan exclaimed, ” It was so heartbreaking to watch😢, he surprisingly wrestled well. Hope this isn’t retirement for this legend 💔” Having dominated throughout the competition, many weren’t expecting an upset win. Another fan reiterated, “Really hate to see Hasan Yazdani 🇮🇷 go out like this ……. 🥈” Even though he barely contested leading up to the Paris Olympics, many were hoping he’d walk away with a gold.

One fan stated, “He is definitely in the GOAT strata.” The Iranian might not have won a silver, but his refusal to give up won many hearts. Another fan confessed, “Yazdani is a bad a**. Love the way he went out. Warrior. And respect for his opponent. Not his fault he got injured. Great stuff.” Not only did the 29-year-old fight through the pain, but Ramazanov refused to use that to his advantage either. Fans couldn’t help but root for both.

One fan chose to reassure the wrestler, “No matter what happened tonight, we are extremely proud of you, Hasan Yazdani! Thank you for what you have done for wrestling and Iran🙏💪” Nobody has been as consistent on the mat as the Iranian. With the silver medal he earned at the French capital, he now is tied for 3 Olympic medals with the legendary wrestler Gholamreza Takhti. What did you think of Hassan Yazdani’s impressive display at the Champ-de-Mars Arena? Let us know in the comments.