Mijain Lopez of Cuba created history by winning his fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal in men’s Greco-Roman wrestling 130 kilogrammes at the Paris Olympics. Lopez was formerly among a select group of competitors who had won four individual gold medals in the same event, including Michael Phelps and Carl Lewis. He now stands alone, having accomplished an incredible feat that no other Olympian has.
Lopez expressed his excitement, adding, “It was a result I had hoped for, not just for myself, but for the world and my country.” It’s the prize for a lifetime of hard work and the support of everyone, including my family.”
Lopez had not participated internationally since the Tokyo Olympics, preferring to focus on his training. His stature and talent have given him a considerable competitive advantage, allowing him to physically overpower opponents. This combo has produced unequalled Olympic success.
Lopez’s Olympic career began in Athens in 2004, but his gold medal streak began in Beijing in 2008. In Paris, he overcame Lee Seung-chan of South Korea, Amin Mirzazadeh of Iran, and Sabah Shariati of Azerbaijan before winning the final against Chile’s Yasmani Acosta Fernandez.
Following his victory, Lopez declared his retirement, saying, “I want to inspire the younger generations.”
