After 3 full days of competition in Tokyo, the team race for Women’s Wrestling at the Olympics is beginning to take shape. Although the Olympics doesn’t officially give a “team trophy”, we’ll be tracking the team competition and crown the team champs at the end of the Games. There are still 3 weights remaining, but take a look below to see how the women’s team race looks up to this point. 

Japan Showing Why They’re Number 1

For the first time in the women’s team race, Japan takes the lead at the end of the 4th day of competition. They have both Kawaia sisters, Risako and Yukako, to thank for the lead. Risako defeated Helen Maroulis in a low-scoring, 2-1 match to make the finals at 57kg. Yukako became the first medalist for Japan's women's team and won her gold medal match at 62kg against Tynybekova (KGZ), in a tight, 4-3 match. Between the two sisters, Japan earned 45 points toward the team competition.

Check out the current top 10 in the Women’s team race:

USA Can Still Win

Team USA is still in the hunt for team gold but will need Helen Maroulis, Jacarra Winchester, and Sarah Hildebrandt to score big points to keep pace with Japan. Both Maroulis and Kawai have potential to earn 5 more points in their remaining matches and will be the favorites. Winchester has her draw and is sitting on the opposite side of the bracket from Japan’s Mukaida. Both Mukaida and Winchester are past world champions, but with Phogat (IND) and Mattsson (SWE) on her side, Winchester looks to have the tougher path to the finals. Hildebrandt wrestling at 50kg for the United States has not received her draw yet and will wrestle the final day of competition. Japan’s Yui Susaki, a two-time world champion, will take the mat at 50kg and is the favorite in the bracket.

Team USA is capable of winning the team race but has very little margin for error. We’ll continue to keep you informed on every update in the team standings as we near the end of Women’s Wrestling at The Olympics.