Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Olympics
Josh Lawless
An Olympic wrestler bowed out at the very top after setting a record which may never be topped.
On Tuesday, Mijain Lopez experienced one of the greatest send-offs in all of sport.
The Cuban beat Yasmani Acosta Fernandez of Chile in the 130-kilogram final and secured his fifth gold medal at the age of 41.
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Incredibly, Lopez becomes the first ever athlete to win gold in the same individual event at five consecutive Olympics - a record which may well remain intact for years to come.
Lopez debuted at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and finished fifth. But then embarked on a period of dominance in his weight class in Greco-Roman wrestling.
He claimed gold in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020 - his win in Tokyo seeing him come through without giving up a single point.
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This time around he conceded two points across four matches but still got the job done and signed off with another medal.
“What’s great is the joy," Lopez said afterwards, with help from a translator.
“It was a result that I was craving, but also for the whole world and my country. "So happy to reach the Olympic elite. The reward of a lifetime of working hard with the help of everyone and my family. It is my biggest win."
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Following the triumph, Lopez dropped to all fours and then proceeded to remove his wrestling boots and in an emotional moment, placed them in the centre of the mat to signify his retirement from the sport.
He signs off as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time and will now let someone else have the opportunity to succeed.
“I have a lot of inspiration for all the young people that come to me for guidance," he added.
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"I have a lot of inspiration to give to the world. I would like to educate the younger generations.”