Unstoppable Mijain Lopez Claims Fifth Consecutive Olympic Gold, Overshadowing Lewis and Phelps
Mijaín López, who will turn 42 in two weeks, cemented his legacy in wrestling by defeating Yasmani Acosta of Chile in the 130kg Greco-Roman event final. With this win, López now holds the record for the most successive individual Olympic gold medals across six Olympic appearances, an extraordinary feat. Each of López’s Olympic journeys is a story in itself. When asked to describe his experiences, he reflected: “Beijing – youth; London – transcendence; Rio – effort; Tokyo – sacrifice; Paris – joy.” His dedication to his sport and the joy he finds in it have driven him to achieve these remarkable results. A true legend, López briefly retired after the 2021 Tokyo Games, but his love for wrestling brought him back. Despite a three-year absence and battling four herniated discs, he astonished the world by defeating the reigning world champion, Amin Mirzazadeh of Iran, in the quarter-finals. The final victory was bittersweet as López faced his close friend Acosta. López, known for his hum...