By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Pure dominance. A master of his craft, a blend of artistry and brutality, that’s Cuban wrestler Mijain Lopez for you, ladies and gentlemen.
Popularly known as the greatest wrestler from Cuba, Lopez made history in the Olympics after becoming the first athlete to win five straight gold medals in any individual event.
Lopez capped off his legendary Paris Olympics campaign after winning over Yasmani Acosta of Chile, 6-0, during the championship match of the 130-kilogram event of the Greco-Roman wrestling category.
What was the most impressive thing about Lopez’s 2024 Summer Games journey was protecting his undefeated record since winning his first Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Olympic edition in Beijing.
After setting foot in the middle of the podium at 25 years old for the first time in his Olympic career, Lopez didn’t stop and continued his legendary streak when he won four straight golds up to this year.
However, this trip to Paris proved to be his last dance after the Cuban superstar officially announced his retirement from the sport.
Right after his dominant win over Acosta, Lopez untied his shoes, left them in the middle of the mat, and walked away with his socks.
“What better opportunity is there for me to be here at a final match, to be able to fight with a fellow brother, and to win at an Olympic Games? There is no better way to say goodbye at the Olympic Games than to leave the door open for the next generation,” Lopez said after the win.
Lopez began his Olympics journey during the 2004 edition of the Summer Games but received a wake-up call when he only bagged the fifth place.
That year when he missed out on the podium then became his ultimate motivation, redeeming himself four years after in Beijing, and the rest is history.
