2024-02-15 05:19:06
Photo: Hendrik Osula | Flickr
Text: Hugo León
Mijaín López, the living legend of Cuban and world Greco-Roman wrestling, has made official the announcement that everyone feared and that many were waiting for: he will retire after the Paris 2024 Olympic event.
The giant from Pinar del Río wants his retirement to come after his fifth Olympic gold, he confessed in an interview with Panam Sports from Croatia, where he is training with a view to the competition.
“It’s already decided. I’m retiring after Paris. I have been dedicating myself to sport for many years now, it is time to be and enjoy my family and my children, and to be able to help the new Cuban generations of wrestling to follow the same path and support that I had in my sporting career.†€, he declared to the aforementioned media.
In total, Mijaín has given medals and joy to the Cuban people for more than 20 years. In that time, he has won four Olympic, five World and five Pan American gold medals.
After his fourth Olympic gold in Tokyo, he was away from high-level training for more than two years and weighing his options to return to the tatami, but the dream of being a five-time champion was greater than any doubt. This is how the world will be able to witness again what is already considered the best fighter in history.
In 2023, for personal reasons, he did not appear at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, but now the boxer is training hard with his sights set on the big event in Paris.
As he explained to Panam Sports, 2024 has started well and he is happy and motivated. “After a great rest, my body is very good, I am very excited, motivated and determined to go to Paris to win my fifth gold medal,†he said.
López has the possibility of becoming the athlete with the most Olympic gold medals in individual sport in history, surpassing other greats such as the American swimmer Michael Phelps, the Japanese wrestler Icho Kaori, the discus thrower Al Oerter and the stellar Carl Lewis.
“Paris 2024 will be something historic, unusual, it is a great challenge that I want to meet. I hope that many people go to the competition and join me in achieving this great milestone in world sport. I want us all to enjoy and be able to celebrate a new gold medal for Cuba and for me,†the athlete expressed.
Regarding his work after retirement, he indicated that he wants to pass on his experience, but mentioned that he would not like to be a coach, but rather to be on the platform of the leaders who must ensure sports, in order to help the sports development of the island and of its people.
Mijaín López confirms that he will go for his fifth Olympic gold in Paris 2024