Cuban wrestler Mijain Lopez becomes first to win 5 gold medals in same individual event

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Mijain Lopez, the 41-year-old wrestler from Cuba, became the first athlete to win five consecutive Olympic golds in the same individual event Tuesday when he ended his career with a 6-0 win over Chile’s Yasmani Acosta in the men’s 130-kilogram Greco-Roman final at Champ de Mars Arena.

Lopez, participating in his first international competition since winning Olympic gold in Tokyo three years ago, upset the reigning world champion from Iran, Amin Mirzazadeh, in the quarterfinals en route to the gold medal bout. In the final against Acosta, Lopez showcased his wrestling prowess with a roll-off par terre in the first period, followed by a takedown in the second, which sealed the victory for the Cuban.

After the bout, Lopez took off his shoes and placed them on the mat. He is retiring after the Olympics, ending one of the great careers in wrestling history.

“It’s a moment to demonstrate that someone has retired officially from the sport of wrestling and that also leaves a path wide open for the younger generation to continue inspiring others,” he said.

Lopez first represented Cuba at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004. He lost in the quarterfinals to Russia’s Khasan Baroyev, one of Lopez’s career rivals.

Lopez first competed at the Olympics in Athens, 20 years ago. (Photo: Luis Robayo / AFP via Getty Images) The pair met four years later in the 120-kg final at Beijing in 2008. Lopez avenged his defeat, capturing his first Olympic gold medal. He followed up his success in Beijing with back-to-back world championship titles in the 120-kg division.

He defended his Olympic gold in London in 2012. When the weight classifications were revised for Rio in 2016, increasing from 120 kg to 130 kg, it didn’t matter for Lopez. He won his third consecutive Olympic gold, defeating Turkey’s Riza Kayaalp, who previously prevented Lopez from winning his third straight world championship in 2011.

Lopez joined an accomplished list of athletes when he won his fourth consecutive Olympic gold in Tokyo. He was the eighth athlete to win four Olympic golds in the same individual event, joining Japanese wrestler Kaori Icho, Denmark sailor Paul Elvstrom, American discus thrower Al Oerter, sprinter Carl Lewis and swimming icons Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky.

That changed Tuesday with Lopez’s win over Acosta, who represents Chile but was born in Cuba. Acosta began representing Chile in 2017 because Lopez was ahead of him when it came to the Olympics.

“He’s a rival, but also a friend,” Acosta said. “We have known each other for a long time now. We did the trials together for this year’s Olympic Games. He has been giving me advice in every phase, so he’s everything, a rival, a friend, he’s a brother.”

Lopez served as Cuba’s flag bearer in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020. Asked about his future, he said he would like to “educate the younger generations.”

Asked to describe his five gold medals in one word, Lopez said, “Beijing — youth. London — transcendence. Rio — effort. Tokyo — sacrifice. Paris — joy.”

Required reading (Photo: Luis Robayo / AFP via Getty Images)

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