Alena Kartashova of Russia (in red) fights Kaori Icho of Japan during their 63 kg women's gold medal freestyle wrestling match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 17, 2008. [Agencies]

Icho, 24, defeated the European champion in two overwhelming bouts, winning 1-0, 2-0.

For six straight years, Icho has won all but one gold medals in the 63kg freestyle, including the Athens Games in 2004. As a model of consistency, she almost made others to only compete for the silver in her speciality.

Yelena Shalygina of Kazakhstan and Randi Miller of United States finished joint third.