Cuban Wrestling Legend Lopez Wins 5th Straight Gold, Retires After 20-Year Olympic Career
PARIS, France – Cuban wrestling great Mijain Lopez became the first Olympian to win five golds in the same individual event on Tuesday, August 6, after winning the men’s 130kg Greco-Roman final at the Paris Games, before immediately retiring.
The 41-year-old has not lost a match since his longtime rival Riza Kayaalp of Turkey beat him in the final of the 2015 World Championships.
Lopez’s 6-0 victory over silver medalist Yasmani Acosta of Chile at the Champ de Mars arena is still remarkable because the Cuban had not competed since winning his fourth gold in Tokyo three years ago.
Lopez pinned his former training partner Acosta in the first period and then added a takedown in the second to secure victory before removing his shoes and leaving them on the mat signaling his retirement.
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Source: https://www.rappler.com