EDs: APNewsNow.

BEIJING (AP) -Shirvani Muradov, taking the place of one of the world's most successful wrestlers over the last four years, has won the Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medal at 96 kilograms (211 1/2 pounds).

Muradov defeated Taimuraz Tigiyev of Kazakhstan 1-0, 1-0 for the gold medal.

The 23-year-old Muradov beat out 2004 Olympic champion and three-time reigning world champion Khadshimourad Gatsalov to make Russia's Olympic team. Gatsalov had won every major world title since 2004.

The bronze medal winners were George Gogshelidze of Georgia - which got a gold medal from Revazi Mindorashvili at 84 kg (185 pounds) minutes before - and Khetag Gazyumov of Azerbaijan.

Daniel Cormier, the American who was third in the world last year, was hospitalized for dehydration problems from his weight cut and did not compete.