Today in Athens

Sara McMann advanced to the semifinals in the 63-kg. weight class in Olympic women’s wrestling Sunday. But she was not happy with part of her performance.

McMann pinned her opponent, Lili Meng of China, at 2:01 of the first period in her morning match. In her afternoon match against Viola Yanik of Canada, McMann simply had to avoid being pinned to advance out of her pool and into the semis. McMann had defeated Yanik several times in past competitions.

She wasn’t pinned but lost to Yanik on points, 5-2.

“All I had to do was not get pinned, and it was unfortunate for me that I had that knowledge,” she said. “As you can see, I wrestled like it. It’s not good to have that knowledge. I wasn’t wrestling with enough heart.”

Still, she advanced and will face Stavroula Zygouri of Greece in her first match Monday.

“It will be like a little afterthought if I win the gold,” she said of her disappointment. “(Monday) could be the best day of all time.”

McMann said she is looking at her Olympic competition as practically as possible.

“It feels like another tournament,” she said. “Same rules as any other tournament.”

This is the debut of women’s wrestling at the Olympics. Just four instead of the traditional seven weight classes are competing.

– St. Paul Pioneer Press