Mirror, mirror on the wall, who reigns supreme as the greatest Olympian? An American might answer Michael Phelps, while in Cuba, the reply could be quite different.
Cuban Greco-Roman wrestler Mijaín López kicked off his quest to cement himself as the greatest Olympian of the modern era on Monday, edging closer to securing an unparalleled fifth consecutive gold medal in the same event.
While Phelps triumphed over hundreds of competitors across four Olympics, racking up a record 28 medals (23 of which are gold) and earning the title of most decorated Olympian in history, López aims to confront the athletes’ most formidable opponent: time itself, as he heads into Paris 2024.
López bulldozed through the opening day of Greco-Roman wrestling, leaving a stream of younger adversaries in his wake. After securing two early victories with ease, he claimed a convincing win in the semi-finals as the sky darkened and the Eiffel Tower illuminated.
“Soy yo!” he exclaimed while returning to the athlete’s area. “The final will be a beautiful experience for both my opponent and myself,” he commented. When asked about his plans post-event, he replied: “I will finish.”
While Greco-Roman wrestling may not be the highlight of the Olympic lineup today, its ancient charm was evident at the Champ de Mars Arena as Paris 2024 entered its second week. As one of the original sports from the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, Greco-Roman wrestling is exclusively male and challenges athletes to showcase their upper body strength through holds, locks, and throws.
The sport’s origins trace back to ancient history, with cave images depicting wrestling as far back as 3000 BC. It was among the first sports featured in the Ancient Olympics over seven centuries before Christ. Legend has it that the famous Ancient Greek wrestler Milo of Croton possessed such strength that he could break a cord tied around his head just using his brow, having trained with a growing ox on his back during his youth.
In contrast, López honed his strength chasing animals and transporting fruit boxes in Herradura, a small town in western Cuba. Known as “el purro” by his family, he began wrestling at the age of 10.
Decades later, as he stepped into the arena, there was a sense of reverence surrounding this true icon of the sport. At just 21, he finished fifth in his debut Olympics in Athens but went on to secure gold in Beijing, London, Rio, and Tokyo. Now, twenty years later and just weeks shy of his 42nd birthday, López exhibited the same fiery hunger as a rising star on the opening day of his sixth Olympics, his imposing presence both commanding and beloved.
Competing in the formidable 130kg weight class, López may lack the speed and agility of his youth, but his extraordinary strength, tactical savvy, and extensive experience were clearly on display in this temporary venue beneath the Eiffel Tower.
The five-time world champion showed no mercy to South Korea’s 28-year-old Lee Seungchan in their opening match, dominating with a 7-0 victory in the quick six-minute bout. A quarter-final challenge awaited against Iran’s 26-year-old Amin Mirzazadeh, the 2023 World Championship titleholder, which promised to be more intense. Yet, standing strong with his mountain-like physique, López prevailed, winning by a score of three points to one.
As the clock approached 8:30 PM local time, López returned to the ring for the semi-final, donning his original red singlet and shorts proudly marked with CUBA across his chest.
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He swayed slowly from side to side as upbeat music filled the arena and his name resonated from the stands, preparing to confront his opponent, 35-year-old Sabah Shariati from Azerbaijan. The two engaged in their first grappling contest, with López leveraging his powerful grip on Shariati’s hands to push effectively into his opponent, maneuvering him around the mat with unwavering resolve.
With just one minute left in the first half, he was awarded a penalty—a pivotal moment in this sport, as the penalized wrestler lies flat while the opponent attempts to flip them over. Shariati clung on desperately, but López’s determination proved overwhelming as he lifted his opponent off the mat and over his shoulder to cheers from the thrilled crowd. In the second half, a penalty was called against López, and after lying on the mat momentarily, he capitalized on a slip from the Azerbaijani wrestler, swiftly flipping the turnover in his favor, ultimately winning the match 4-1.
López entered these Games with the aura of a legend but as a competitor who has chosen to conserve his energy in recent years for his most significant challenge yet.
El Terrible, a nickname reflecting his fearsome reputation on the mat, has not competed since the Tokyo Olympics. His coach, Raul Trujillo, spoke to reporters after a sweating López powered past to the athlete area, emphasizing the importance of keeping López injury-free before the Games. “He’s been around for many years, so it’s crucial to preserve his body,” he said. “The Olympics are his primary focus. He’s an older athlete who needs to take care of himself.”
Reflecting on his decision not to compete in the 2023 super heavyweight category due to the passing of his father the previous September, López stated, “I didn’t feel that usual drive leading into a competition. People typically see my joy and competitiveness at multi-sport Games, but I wasn’t feeling that way this time.”
As he dominated his opponents on the first day of Greco-Roman wrestling this Monday, that passion was once again evident, propelling him further toward the concluding triumphs of his career.
