The Iranian Olympic caravan had its best day yet on the 11th day of the London Olympics, winning two more gold medals and two silver medals in wrestling and weightlifting.
Ghassem Rezai won Iran another gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling in the 96 kg category, beating his Russian adversary Rustam Totrov.
While all bets were on Saeed Abdvali in the 66 kg category to get another gold for Iran in Greco-Roman wrestling, Rezai upset all expectations, rising from a lowly 16th at the Beijing Games to win the gold in the 96 kg category.
"I am very happy because I have made my people very proud," Rezai said. "To see all the Iranians inside the stadium and back home, to bring smiles to their faces is the happiest moment of my life."
Rezai beat Turkey’s Ildem, Armenia’s Aleksanian and Cuba’s Estrada to get to the finals.
Iran’s Greco-Roman wrestling team had already won two other gold medals with Hamid Soryan and Omid Noroozi in the 55 and 60 kg categories respectively.
In weightlifting, Iran ruled the final event, winning both the gold and silver medals in the super heavyweight category.
Behdad Salimi lifted 208 kilograms in the snatch potion and 247 kilograms in the clean and jerk for a total of 455 kilograms.
His teammate Sajjad Anoushiravani lifted 204 kilograms in the snatch and 247 in the clean and jerk portion.
Iran also got its first Olympic track and field medal, with Ehsan Hadadi winning silver in the men’s discus throw with a distance of 68.18m. Robert Harting from Germany won the gold with a result of 68.28m.
Iran has now won eight medals, including four gold, three silver and one bronze. On day 11 of the Olympics, that puts the country in 12th place in the medals standings.
