The Paris Olympics have been the host to numerous records, marking the most impressive feats in human history. When it comes to what may be the most impressive record, it feels impossible to quantify. However, some records that are set appear unbreakable. That ‘unbreakable’ moniker applies to Cuban Greco-Roman wrestler Mijain Lopez after he won five golds in five Olympic games. No athlete has ever recorded a gold in the same event in five straight Olympics, and no wrestler has ever won five gold medals, until Mijain Lopez.
Lopez Wins 2024 Olympic Gold; Retires On The Mat
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Mijain Lopez was on top of Greco-Roman wrestling for over 20 years, and he solidified that dominance in the Paris Olympic Games. Lopez defeated Chile’s Yasmani Acosta in the gold medal match. After the match, Acosta took the loss with grace.
“I feel a mix of emotions,” he said. “I wanted to win gold, but at the same time, not so much because it’s Mijain, a legend in wrestling worldwide.”
After his perfect 6-0 performance, Lopez picked up his coaches in crushing embraces as fans clapped to the arena’s tune of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by the Eurythmics. Moments later, Mijain walked to the center of the mat and began to untie his shoes, ans was met with an eruption of applause. In wrestling, an athlete leaving their shoes on the mat is a sign of retiring from the sport. As Mijain placed his boots on the floor, it marked the end to arguably the greatest Olympic career of all time.
“It was time to say goodbye at the mat,” López said after his win. “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.”
Mijain’s Unprecedented Olympic Longevity
Cuba’s Mijain Lopez began his Olympic career in 2004 at just 21 years old in Athens, Greece. That year, Lopez left with a fifth-place finish. But since then Lopez has not missed a gold medal. In one of the most physically taxing Olympic sports, Lopez secured the gold in Bejing in 2008, London in 2012, Rio De Janeiro in 2016, Tokyo in 2020, and in his final masterpiece Paris in 2024.
From 25 years old to weeks shy of his 42nd birthday, Lopez continuously proved himself as the most talented heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler on the planet, earning him the nickname “El Terrible.” Such a feat has not been close to accomplished in combat sports, and will likely not occur again. The USA’s Katie Ledecky will have the chance to replicate similar results in the pool, as she aims for her fifth 800m gold in the 2028 Los Angeles games.
“To get to this point, the first thing you need is to love your sport, love what you do and show to the world that you are capable of winning with so little,” said Lopez as he left the sport for good.
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