Never been done before! Paris Olympics witnesses history as Mijain Lopez wins FIFTH straight gold medal

Cuban Greco-Roman wrestler Mijain Lopez earned a shot at a record fifth Olympics wrestling gold in Paris 2024. Subsequently, he came out with flying colors. Lopez defeated Azerbaijan’s Sabah Saleh Shariati 4-1 on Monday to advance to the 130-pound final. Just two weeks shy of his 42nd birthday. Now, he is the first-ever, man or woman to snag five gold medals in individual Olympic events.

Topped off by Women’s freestyle, the Greco-Roman (—77kg) qualification round (Mat A) took place at 5 a.m. ET to 7:30 a.m. ET. Before that, Mijain Lopez defeated Yasmani Acosta Fernandez 6-0, for the Men’s Greco-Roman 130kg gold medal. He knew there were doubters during the feat, but he got it done anyway. Additionally, he left a shoe on the mat, signaling his retirement.

I know some people were skeptical, but I knew I was ready for this, ...Whenever I compete in the Olympics and world championships, I do it trying to bring joy to my country...I’ll be retiring, it’s over. We need to make some space for those who are coming... Wrestling for me has been the love of my life, for all of my life.

Mijain Lopez predicting his matchup and retirement before Tuesday; translated from Spanish; H/T: Associated Press

The 41 y.o is widely considered the greatest wrestler of all time. Even more so than 4-medal G.O.A.Ts Aleksandr Karelin and Kaori Icho, and more so than NCAA Division I national finalist, two-time NJCAA champ, six-time US World and Olympian Daniel Cormier, or the iconic Jordan Burroughs. From the bowels of Burroughs losing out his last qualifier trials to Jason Nolf in the finals of the 74 kg category to someone actually making a mark in a supposed final run, the ordeal this year is sure to make fans happy.

On the opening day of the competition in Paris Olympics 2024, he defeated Seungchan Lee in the 130kg qualification round (Mat C). ‘El Terrible’ defeated the South Korean wrestler 7-0. In the second round. He was surprisingly scored on but still defeated the top seed and 2023 World champ, Amin Mirzazadeh of Iran, 3-1 to advance. Now he wants newer seeds to take his place and make a mark. As such, his winning feat has gone viral.

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Fans react to Mijain Lopez winning fifth gold

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Mijain Lopez became the first Olympic athlete in any sport to win five gold medals in the same individual event. The 6-foot-5, 41-year-old Cuban has done so in Greco-Roman’s super heavyweight at every Games dating back to 2008. When the finals against Chile’s Acosta Fernandez began just after 1:30 p.m. ET., Lopez did so yet again.

Here’s what fans think about it:

The solemn duty to bear the star and stripes or to even carry the torch does not fall to many. Consequently, Lopez and the Cuban judoka Idalys Ortiz were designated as the flag bearers for 2024 Summer Olympics. The Team Cerro Pelado wrestler now surpasses Olympic G.O.A.Ts like Aleksandr Karelin, Icho, Saori Yoshida, Carl Westergren, and premium icons like Jordan Burroughs and others both in medal and mettle.

Fans have voiced as such, at the well-deserved retirement. Additionally, he is now a five-time Olympic gold medalist, five-time World Champion, and also a five-time Pan American Games champ. Chapters do not get any more bloated than Mijain Lopez at the Paris Olympics. With such an international competition record, he will remain etched in history for a long while.

In case you missed it:

• How to watch Athletics at the Paris Olympics 2024: Full schedule, channel and live stream
• Tokyo Olympics 2020: Tamyra Mensah becomes the first American black woman to win a gold medal in wrestling

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