Russian wrestler Musa Evloev won the gold medal in the men's Greco-Roman 87 kilograms category at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, after beating Armenia's defending Olympic and three-times world champion Artur Aleksanyan.

Evloev was the number one seed entering the competition and dispatched with Giorgi Melia of Georgia, Alex Gergo Szoke of Hungary, and Tadeusz Michalik of Poland on the way to the gold medal. 

In the final, Evloev beat his great rival Aleksanyan 5-1.

Across the four fights, Evloev scored 21 points and conceded just one.

After the triumph, he said: "I am very happy, this is a great victory for me," as reported by TASS, Russia's official state news agency.

"Thank you very much to everyone who was rooting for me. 

"I am overwhelmed with joy, I am very grateful to my coach.

Evloev beat his great rival in the final, Armenia's defending Olympic and three-times world champion Artur Aleksanyan, to secure the gold medal ©Getty Images
Evloev beat his great rival in the final, Armenia's defending Olympic and three-times world champion Artur Aleksanyan, to secure the gold medal ©Getty Images

"I fought here with very serious wrestlers, the opponent in the final was very strong.

"Thanks to him."

The 28-year-old was born in the Republic of Ingushetia.

He won his first of two world titles in 2018, going one better than his silver medal the year prior. 

In 2019, Evloev defended his world title. 

He followed that success up with European titles in 2019 and 2021.