UAE women's cricket team turned their fortunes around with a memorable triumph in Namibia
sports2 days ago
Cuban wrestler Mijain Lopez made Olympic history on Tuesday when he became the first athlete to win five consecutive individual golds in the same event, bettering the records of Games icons such as Carl Lewis and Michael Phelps.
Lopez, who turns 42 in two weeks' time, defeated fellow Cuban Yasmani Acosta, representing Chile, in the final of the 130kg Greco-Roman event.
With his victory, Lopez broke a tie for four successive individual Olympic golds he shared with Carl Lewis (athletics/long jump), Michael Phelps (swimming/200m medley), Katie Ledecky (swimming/800m freestyle), Al Oerter (athletics/discus), Paul Elvstrom (sailing) and Kaori Icho (wrestling).
When asked to describe each Games success, he said: "Beijing - youth; London - transcendence, Rio - effort; Tokyo - sacrifice; Paris - joy."
"To achieve all of these results, one has to love their sport, love their job, and demonstrate to the world that with so little you can achieve great things," he added.
A legend of wrestling, Lopez had retired after the 2021 Tokyo Games before returning to the sport to achieve his landmark triumph.
Despite a three-year absence -- and having suffered four herniated discs -- Lopez stunned world champion Amin Mirzazadeh of Iran in the quarterfinals in Paris.
Victory in the final on Tuesday was bittersweet as it came against close friend Acosta.
In six Olympic appearances, Lopez now has 22 victories against just one defeat which came in the quarterfinals of the 2004 Athens Games.
"He is not very interested in glory. He does this for the love of his sport, for his pleasure. If God gave him the opportunity to be the greatest in history, why not take advantage of it?" his coach Raul Trujillo told AFP.
Lopez received a standing ovation from the crowd on Tuesday before the legend placed his shoes in the middle of the mat, a tradition for retiring wrestlers.
"We have to make room for the young people who are coming through to ensure continuity," he had said Monday after qualifying for the final.
"Wrestling has been the love of my life, for all of my life."
His record could be equalled in four years' time if Ledecky, 27, decides to keep swimming at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Acosta, 36, who recently switched allegiance to Chile as federation rules allow just one wrestler per nation to enter each category at the Olympics, described Lopez as a "legend worldwide".
"He's a rival, but also a friend. We have known each other for a long time now. We did the trials together for this year's Olympic Games," said Acosta.
"He has been giving me advice in every phase, so he's everything, a rival, a friend, he's a brother."
The two men found time for a friendly chat just before the final got underway.
"I asked him, as a joke, if he had any advice to give me before the final. He responded, 'What do you mean? The final is against me.' But at the end, he just wished me a good match."
ALSO READ:
UAE women's cricket team turned their fortunes around with a memorable triumph in Namibia
sports2 days ago
Winners edge out Stuart Smith’s squad by a hair in a thrilling 21-team showdown at Yas Links Abu Dhabi as Jackson Bell wins Individual Title
sports2 days ago
Many City players, including Kevin De Bruyne, Manuel Akanji, and Bernardo Silva, have voiced concerns about the crammed calendar this season
sports2 days ago
Eleonora clinched the win at the Grand Prix Stuttgart & Region, with a decisive strong sprint
sports2 days ago
The F1 championship continues at the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend
sports2 days ago
The Northern Ireland star expresses disappointment in the loss but focuses on positives ahead at Wentworth
sports2 days ago
Teammate Rashed Al Qemzi stays on course for a record fifth title triumph in the UIM F2 World Championship
sports3 days ago
The pair tangled while battling for third place behind winner Oscar Piastri of McLaren and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc
sports3 days ago