Russian Buvaysa Saytiev won the men's freestyle 74kg wrestling at the Beijing Olympic Games on Wednesday evening to become the only second freestyle wrestler in history to win three consecutive Olympic golds.

The first three-time freestyle winner was Alexander Medved of Soviet Union in the 1964, 1968 and 1972 Games.

Saytiev, winner in the 1996 Atlanta and 2004 Athens Games, lost the first period to Soslan Tigiev of Uzbekistan, scored a go-behind point in the second, and then a low single and back exposure in the third for the victory.

"I easily won the semifinal and that saved my energy," said 33-year-old Saytiev. "But the final was really tough, especially for my age. I lost the first period but I kept on fighting for survival."

"I'm not satisfied with my performance in the final. It was just normal." added Saytiev.

On his prospect of attending the London 2012 Games, the Russian said that "I will be 37 by then and there are many talented young wrestlers in the Russian team. I'm afraid I won't even pass the trial."

In the bronze medal matches, Murad Gaidarov of Belarus scored a front headlock in the first period, and added a pair of takedowns in the second to defeat Gheorghita Stefan of Romania 2-0.

Bulgarian Kiril Terziev flustered Cuban Ivan Fundora with timely counter lifts and caught Fundora, bronze medallist in Athens four year ago on his back in the second for a fall to seize the victory.

"I felt great to win the bronze medal," said Terziev, who made his Olympic debut. "I was dreaming to get this bronze after I lost the semifinals. And I have been waiting for this moment for a long time. I'm just 24 and I will fight for more."

(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2008)