Wrestlers from the Chicago area, Kamal Bey and Joe Rau, encountered a tough start at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, each facing a formidable No. 3 seed in their opening matches. According to a Chicago Tribune article, despite the initial setback, possibly isn't over for Rau, as he could still contend for a bronze medal depending on the results of later matches.

Bey, a specialist in the U.S. Army, had an unexpected journey to the Olympics. Only securing his slot after the Russian wrestler Sergey Kutuzov was disqualified, Bey expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity. "I wasn't supposed to be here, but I got the invitation late and answered the call, of course," Bey told the Chicago Tribune. Even following his loss to Akzhol Makhmudov of Kyrgyzstan, he stayed positive, saying, "This is the Olympic Games, right? You're competing against the cream of the crop at your weight class."

Looking to the day's wrestling lineup, Amit Elor, and Sarah Hildebrandt also represent Team USA, as noted by USA Wrestling. Elor heads into gold-medal contention, while Hildebrandt, after her match against Algeria’s Ibtissem Doudou, could face a path through to the semifinals and a shot at either gold or bronze on Wednesday, depending on the day's results.