Israeli wrestler captures bronze medal at elite French competition

• Published date: 17 January 2021
• Date: 17 January 2021
• Author: BENJAMIN WEINTHAL
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

"I have a lot of pride being able to represent Israel on the world's stage," he said. "It's amazing to be able to represent my culture and heritage."

"I feel as though I competed decently," Finesilver told The Jerusalem Post. "I felt better as the day went

on, though. Lots of work to still be done. I would love to represent Israel at the Olympics, but I still need

to qualify [in] the weight first. Those tournaments will be held in March and April."

He is the first Israeli to win a medal at the competition in nearly a decade.

The US-born Finesilver prevailed over Azerbaijan's Joshgun Azimov 2-1 for the bronze medal. His 5-2 win over

Poland's Kamil Rybicki to enter the bronze medal round was a thriller that prompted FloWrestling journalist

David Bray to tweet: "Mitch Finesilver will wrestle for bronze. Looked solid in that last match."

Finesilver beat Azerbaijan's Gadzhimurad Omarov 4-2 in his opening match. Azerbaijan produces some of the

world's top wrestlers.

Kyle Dake, a two-time world champion from the US, defeated Finesilver 11-0 in the second round. Dake went on

to win the Henri Deglane tournament.

In his "wrestleback" bracket match, where wrestlers who were defeated on the way to the finals seek to secure

a bronze medal, Finesilver prevailed over his French opponent Charles Afa 12-1. Finesilver sported a red and

white singlet with a Star of David on his wrestling uniform.

The tournament in Nice is named after Henri Deglane (1902-1975), who was a French Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling.

Finesilver earned All-American status as a Duke University grappler at the...