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Flipping out! US super heavyweight wrestler Gable Steveson STUNS three-time world champ with last-second victory in gold medal match - and celebrates with a backflip

American 21-year-old Gable Steveson stunned Georgia's triple world champion Geno Petriashvili with a last-gasp victory in the super heavyweight gold medal bout on Friday - and he celebrated his first Olympic gold by doing a backflip. 

Steveson, the reigning NCAA champion at the University of Minnesota, took the lead when he slammed his 125 kg opponent down for a takedown that echoed around the near-empty arena and nearly scored with a four-point throw but the Georgian gamely fought back with two gut wrench moves to lead 8-5.

But with 10 seconds left, Steveson turned things around with two spin-behind takedowns, the second coming just as the buzzer sounded to go up 9-8.

Steveson of the United States (blue) reacts after defeating Geno Pteriashvili of Georgia (red) in the Men's Freestyle 125kg Final match at the Wrestling events of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba, Japan

Steveson of the United States reacts after defeating Geno Pteriashvili of Georgia in the Men's Freestyle 125kg Final match at the Wrestling events of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba, Japan

WHAT JUST HAPPENED! 🥇@GableSteveson grabs the GOLD as time expires. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/yqMc3wbXsu

United State's Gable Steveson celebrates with his gold medal during the victory ceremony for men's freestyle 125kg wrestling at the 2020 Summer Olympics

United State's Gable Steveson celebrates with his gold medal during the victory ceremony for men's freestyle 125kg wrestling at the 2020 Summer Olympics

That GOLD medal feeling. 🥇#TokyoOlympics | @GableSteveson pic.twitter.com/rded6GWL6o

Steveson does a back flip while celebrating his gold medal victory over Geno Petriashvili

Steveson does a back flip while celebrating his gold medal victory over Geno Petriashvili

He did it! @GableSteveson wins GOLD with just seconds left in the match. His friends and family erupt! @kare11 pic.twitter.com/rhzYO52LSK

Steveson has been performing back flips for some time as a member of the Minnesota Golden Gophers wrestling team, but this was the first time he's done one after winning a gold medal

Steveson has been performing back flips for some time as a member of the Minnesota Golden Gophers wrestling team, but this was the first time he's done one after winning a gold medal 

Things weren't easy on Friday for Steveson, who is seen being taken down by Pteriashvili

Things weren't easy on Friday for Steveson, who is seen being taken down by Pteriashvili

Petriashvili's corner challenged the decision on the final takedown in desperation and lost another point in the process, giving the 10-8 victory to Steveson, who is actually named for American gold medalist Dan Gable. 

'You saw that? Oh my god, wow. No way, ain't no way,' Steveson said in disbelief. 'I'm speechless, I've never done it before but today was the day. Damn!

'In those last few seconds, I knew I could fire it up, I tricked him and he bought it. I looked at the clock at it was 0.3 left... It was the match of the century.'

Even before his win was confirmed, an elated Steveson burst into a backflip, which became his customary celebration while establishing himself as the NCAA's top super heavyweight last season. 

News of Steveson's victory quickly circled around the globe, but may have had its biggest impact in mix martial arts and professional (AKA: fake) wrestling circles.

News of Steveson's victory quickly circled around the globe, but may have had its biggest impact in mix martial arts and professional (AKA: fake) wrestling circles

News of Steveson's victory quickly circled around the globe, but may have had its biggest impact in mix martial arts and professional (AKA: fake) wrestling circles

Even WWE legend Triple H offered congratulations to Steveson after the gold medal win

Even WWE legend Triple H offered congratulations to Steveson after the gold medal win 

'What a finish by Gable Steveson,' tweeted Ariel Helwani, a journalist covering mixed martial arts. 'He wins gold at the buzzer! Wow. His rise continues. He'll be extremely sought after by MMA and pro wrestling orgs once he's done with school.'

'@GableSteveson with the clutch gene!' Tweeted MMA legend Daniel Cormier. '21 years old and Olympic champ. My mind is blown right now ! I'm buzzing.'

'A GOLD-MEDAL celebration!!!' Tweeted WWE wrestler Triple H. 'Congratulations to

@GableSteveson on his performance at the #TokyoOlympics. Focused until the last second, another gold meal for @USAWrestling and #TeamUSA!!!!'

The WWE's Chad Gable later tweeted: 'Grit. Determination. Outright refusal to lose. What a performance. Congratulations! This makes me proud.'

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