Race to Paris: Australian Wrestlers Compete for Olympic Berths in World Qualifiers

The Istanbul meet, taking place until May 12, is the last chance for wrestlers to earn a spot in the upcoming Summer Games in Paris 2024. There are three Olympic quotas available in each weight class, and all matches will be live streamed.

The top two finalists in each division will secure Olympic quotas for their countries, while the third spot will be determined by a playoff bout between the two bronze medallists in the weight class.

Masuda, originally from Japan but now competing for Australia, is the current Oceania champion in her category. Despite this, she was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the African & Oceania qualifiers in March. Similarly, Barns, the Oceania champion in his weight class, fell in the quarters at the continental qualifiers in Alexandria.

Australia has a history of success in wrestling at the Olympics, having won three medals – one silver and two bronze. However, their last medal was in 1948, and no Australian wrestlers competed at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

To watch the World Wrestling Olympic Qualifiers 2024 live in Australia, tune in to United World Wrestling’s official website for live streaming. Unfortunately, there will be no live broadcast of the qualifiers on any TV channel in Australia.

The schedule for Australian wrestlers at the World Wrestling Olympic Qualifiers 2024 is as follows (all times are Australian Eastern Standard Time – AEST):

– May 10: Women’s freestyle 62kg preliminary rounds – 5:00 PM onwards; Men’s freestyle 97kg preliminary rounds at 5:00 PM onwards; Women’s freestyle 62kg repechage and bronze medal matches at 5:00 PM and