Havana (AFP) – Despite his 41 spring and more than two years without competition, the Cuban Mijain Lopez, quadruple Olympic wrestling champion, intends to conquer a fifth consecutive crown at the Paris-2024 Games, an unprecedented feat which would prolong his legend : “ I will do it “, he told AFP.
Published on: 03/21/2024 – 12:14
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In 2021 at the Tokyo Games, this tall, muscular two-meter man matched the legendary exploits of the Americans Carl Lewis (long jump), Michael Phelps (swimming, 200m medley) and Alfred Oerter (discus), from Danish Paul Elvstrom (sailing) and Japanese Kaori Icho (wrestling), all Olympic champions in the same event over four different editions of the Games.
We thought he was destined for a well-deserved retirement, but Mijain Lopez showed his desire to enter the legend of the five-time gold medalists alone, a feat never achieved in the modern era.
Mijain Lopez (right) returned to training at age 41 in hopes of winning a fifth Olympic gold medal at Paris-2024. © ADALBERTO ROQUE / AFP
With still a few extra kilos, the superstar of Greco-Roman wrestling began the final phase of his preparation at the start of the year, determined to win a first duel with himself: stabilize his weight below the required 130 kg. Gold medalist at Beijing-2008, London-2012, Rio-2016, he has not participated in any official competition since his coronation at Tokyo-2021.
« Trust »
The one who was the flag bearer of the Cuban delegation during the four previous opening ceremonies confides in an exclusive interview with AFP that he has no doubt that a fifth title “ is an achievable goal ».
“The pains in the body are there, so the mind must be strong,” says Mijain Lopez, 41, here during a training session in Havana on March 14, 2024. © ADALBERTO ROQUE / AFP
« The fatigue is there, the pain in the body is there, so the mind must be strong, the motivation must be even stronger “, he says, dripping with sweat after an intense three-hour training session on the mats at the Cerro Pelado high performance center in Havana.
« Trust » is his watchword, both in his abilities and in his coach, Raul Trujillo, who has already accompanied him to gold in Rio and Tokyo.
« It’s just about listening to the coach and trusting all his training plans “, he said. “ Don’t get hurt (…) and then I’ll go to Paris to fight. »
« The truth is out there and I tell you, I’m going to do it ».
“I feel happy,” says Mijain Lopez, who is perfecting his Olympic preparation in Havana. © ADALBERTO ROQUE / AFP
In five Olympics, Mijain Lopez has 18 victories for only one defeat, during his first Games in Athens 2004, in the quarter-finals against the Russian Khasan Baroyev, future Olympic champion. He had just celebrated his 22nd birthday.
“Mijain’s corner”
To achieve his goal, he relies everything on his individual preparation. “ The preparation is going well. I think the objectives were precisely achieved. We spent two months (…) in training centers in Croatia and Bulgaria, where I had the chance to train with high-level athletes “, he explains.
The opportunity to compete against leading wrestlers in his category, such as the Chinese Meng Lingzhe and the Egyptian Mohamed Abdellatif, respectively fourth and fifth in the world rankings.
Mijain Lopez recovers after an intensive training session in Havana, as part of his preparation for Paris-2024, where he will aim for a fifth gold medal. © ADALBERTO ROQUE / AFP
These internships in Europe, in January and February, marked what he calls “Mijain’s flight” to Paris. “ It brought me the joy I was looking for, I feel happy “, he said.
Mijain Lopez will now continue his preparation in the seaside resort of Varadero, 150 km east of Havana, determined to snag a fifth gold charm in “ Mijain’s corner », the wall where he proudly displays all his medals, in his house in Herradura, his native village 110 km west of Havana.
« Everything will happen as usual », he concludes with an almost arrogant confidence, before placing his forty-year-old body in the hands of the physiotherapist.
