HomeEntertainmentUnprecedented Feat: Mijain Lopez Achieves Five Consecutive Olympic Golds in Wrestling, Retires as the Greatest of All Time with Historic Farewell
Unprecedented Feat: Mijain Lopez Achieves Five Consecutive Olympic Golds in Wrestling, Retires as the Greatest of All Time with Historic Farewell
Aug 5, 2024; Paris, France; Mijain Lopez Nunez (Cuba) during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Champ-de-Mars Arena. / Grace Hollars-USA TODAY Sports
Along with baseball and boxing, wrestling is Cuba’s bread and butter when it comes to the Summer Olympics—and no wrestler in the island nation has ever been better than Greco-Roman grappler Mijain Lopez.
Lopez, 41, entered the Paris Olympics with gold medals in four consecutive Olympics. He won gold in the 120-kilogram weight class in Beijing in 2008, gold in the same class in London in 2012, gold in the 130-kilogram class in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, and gold in that class in Tokyo in 2021.
On Tuesday, he made it an even five gold medals in the super heavyweight class—besting Chile’s Yasmani Acosta 6–0 in Paris.
After the bout, the icon left his shoes on the mat—signaling his retirement from wrestling.
5 straight Olympic gold medals for Cuban superheavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler Mijaín López. Beijing, London, Rio, Tokyo, Paris. Never been done before in an individual Olympic event, summer or winter, men’s or women’s.
And he leaves his shoes on the mat to signal his retirement pic.twitter.com/4DdhfOHIxk— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) August 6, 2024
Lopez, an all-time great in his sport, has carried the flag at the Olympic opening ceremony four times for his country. Outside of Olympic competition, he has eight medals (five gold) in the world championships and five (all gold) in the Pan American Games.
On August 5, 2024, in Paris, France, the legendary Cuban wrestler Mijain Lopez Nunez made history once again at the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at the Champ-de-Mars Arena. Known for his dominance in Greco-Roman wrestling, Lopez solidified his status as one of the greatest Olympic athletes of all time by winning his fifth consecutive gold medal.At 41 years old, Lopez’s unparalleled success began in Beijing 2008, where he captured gold in the 120-kilogram weight class. He continued his reign in London 2012, Rio de Janeiro 2016, Tokyo 2021, and now in Paris 2024. His latest triumph came in the super heavyweight class, where he defeated Chile’s Yasmani Acosta with a commanding 6-0 victory.The significance of Lopez’s achievement cannot be overstated. He is the first individual Olympic athlete, in either the summer or winter games, men’s or women’s events, to win five consecutive gold medals. His remarkable career is not just defined by Olympic success, as he has also excelled in world championships and the Pan American Games.Beyond his remarkable athletic feats, Lopez has been a beacon of pride for Cuba, carrying the national flag at the Olympic opening ceremony four times. His impact on the sport of wrestling and the Olympic movement as a whole is immeasurable, and his legacy will endure for generations to come.As Lopez bids farewell to competitive wrestling, he leaves a legacy of excellence, sportsmanship, and unwavering determination. His decision to leave his shoes on the mat symbolizes the end of an era in Cuban wrestling history. We salute Mijain Lopez Nunez for his extraordinary achievements and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.Follow us for more inspiring stories, updates, and valuable information as we strive to bring you the latest and most relevant content. Let us continue to celebrate the incredible achievements of athletes like Mijain Lopez Nunez and honor their dedication to their sport and country.
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