Sadulaev defeated London 2012 gold medallist Sharif Sharifov of Azerbaijan in the 86kg semi-finals and then stopped Akgul’s team-mate and world silver medallist Selim Yasar for the gold medal.

It was Russia’s third gold medal in wrestling at Rio 2016, following Greco-Roman triumphs for Roman Vlasov at 75kg and Davit Chakvetadze at 85kg.

In the final, Sadulaev registered a takedown and gut wrench midway through the first period for a 5-0 lead and saw out the remainder of the bout.

"It was my dream since my childhood to be an Olympic champion," said Sadulaev.

"I'm very happy and I want to thank everybody who supported me."

Akgul, meanwhile, capped off today’s action with a 3-1 win over Komeil Nemat Ghasemi of Iran in a repeat of their 2014 World Championship final, also won by the Turk.

The 25-year-old scored two of his points off the shot clock and the other by step-out with a minute-and-a-quarter left on the clock.

Victory secured Turkey’s first gold medal of Rio 2016 and fifth overall in wrestling.

"I send my best wishes to Turkish people and I give this present to them, especially after last month we had so many problems," said Akgul.

"People just protested and so many people died. 

"I'm sending my gold medal to these people, these great and brave people."

In the bronze medal matches at 86kg, Sharifov beat Venezuela’s Pedro Francisco Ceballos Fuentes 5-1 before the United States' J’den Cox won by withdrawal at the expense of Cuba’s Reineris Salas Perez.

The 125kg bronze medal matches saw Belarus’ Ibrahim Saidau edge Armenia’s Levan Berianidze on criteria after which European champion Geno Petriashvili of Georgia defeated America's Tervel Dlagnev by technical fall with just 31 seconds on the clock.

Rio 2016 wrestling action is due to conclude tomorrow with the men’s 65kg and 97kg freestyle competitions.