PARIS — A Cuban wrestler made Olympic history Tuesday and perhaps put himself in the conversation as one of the greatest Olympic athletes ever.
Mijaín López became the first Summer Olympian in any sport to win five consecutive gold medals in the same event, a masterful feat of longevity and dominance that he reached by defeating Chile’s Yasmani Acosta, 6-0, in the 130-kilogram final in Greco-Roman wrestling at Champ-de-Mars Arena.
When it was over, López picked up his coaches in a pair of bear hugs before walking to the center of the mat and untying his shoes. In the international symbol for a wrestler’s retirement, he removed his shoes, left them on the mat and walked away.
“We need to make some space for those who are coming (into the sport),” López had said a day earlier, foreshadowing the move. “Wrestling for me has been the love of my life, for all of my life.”
Mijain Lopez Nunez (CUB) leaves his shoes in the mat after defeating Yasmani Acosta Fernandez (CHI) in the men’s greco-roman 130kg final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Champ-de-Mars Arena. (Sarah Phipps, USA TODAY Sports)
Nicknamed “El Terrible” for his imposing figure and sheer dominance, López won his first Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Games in Beijing, when he was 25 years old. He won his fifth just a few weeks shy of his 42nd birthday.
Believe it or not, he did not compete at all between his previous march to gold at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and this one.
“He has been here for many years, so it is very important to conserve his body,” his coach Raul Trujillo told The Guardian.
As he circled the mat after his victory, López held one hand above his head in a triumphant fist and used the other to cradle Trujillo, who was in tears.
“It’s been a sacrifice for a career lasting so many years,” he told reporters Monday. “And it’s beautiful for the next generations so that they have something to aspire to.”
Mijain Lopez Nunez (CUB) reacts after defeating Yasmani Acosta Fernandez (CHI) in the men’s greco-roman 130kg final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Champ-de-Mars Arena. Sarah Phipps-USA TODAY Sports
While many athletes have won five gold medals at the Summer Olympics, they have all needed to participate in multiple events to do so. None have dominated one event like López.
His mark, however, might prove to be short-lived. American swimmer Katie Ledecky could match López’s feat with gold in the 800-meter freestyle at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
