They were being waved by the family of Patricia Miranda, the Yale Law School-bound graduate of Stanford, their allegiance spelled out on the chests of their T-shirts as they sat side-by-side in the stands: Dad, Jose, with a T, stepmother with an R, and three siblings with I-S-H.
Miranda gave her family ample reason to cheer and to wave those flags, winning three matches to advance to today's medal round, where two more victories would make her the first woman ever to win an Olympic gold medal in the 105.5-pound (48 kg) division.
She will be joined in the championship round by 138.7-pound (63 kg) teammate Sara McMann, who split two matches but advanced after all three wrestlers in her pool finished with identical records. She compiled more points than her foes, by pinning 2001 World Champion Lili Meng of China and scoring twice against Canada's Viola Yanik in a 5-2 setback.
By contrast, U.S. 121-pound (55 kg) hopeful Tara O'Donnell lost out in the tiebreaking formula after going 1-1, while 158.5-pound (72 kg) Toccara Montgomery failed to advance after losing 8-4 in the opening round to two-time world champion Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan.
Being an Olympian, in a sport contested in 776 B.C. at the first ancient Games in Olympia, was a first step toward making it possible for more American girls to wrestle, if they so desire. "It gives us a platform from which to speak," Miranda said. "It didn't legitimize [our sport]. It gives us a medium in which to speak."
She sensed the importance during preparations for the Games, with additional news-media coverage and the extra attention team members received in training. "It had a little more oomph. You really wanted to leave it on the mat," Miranda said.
But she agreed with McMann's assessment that once the competition began, it felt like any other meet. "You have the same rules, you go out with three referees and you wrestle," said McMann.
McMann will meet a surprise advancer, Stavroula Zygouri, in one semifinal match today.
Miranda's semifinal match could be a classic. She will face Ukrainian Irin Merleni, who beat Miranda in last year's 51kg world-championship match and who did not give up a point Sunday.
mikeg@sltrib.com
