Paris 2024 is dressing up. It is a fact that the thirty-third Olympic Games have begun, and with them, several athletes from around the world will write legendary stories; one could be the Cuban Mijaín López, one of the favorites to achieve his fifth consecutive crown in six editions under the five rings.
The Herradura mole looks optimistically at his fifth Olympic scepter after confidently walking through his last four appearances at these quadrennial events.
Let's remember that Mijaín made his debut at 22 years old in Athens 2004 and lost in the quarterfinals to the Russian Khasan Baroex, who ultimately became the last Olympic champion in the heavyweight category before the "era" of Mijaín López.
In Beijing 2008, the boy with a broad smile and modesty on full display would begin his successful journey through summer events.
None of his rivals were able to score a point against him; thus, the Belarusian Siarhei Artsiukin, the Armenian Yuri Patrikeyeb, the Swedish Jalmar Sjoberg, and in the final, his victor from four years earlier: the Russian Khasan Baroev, left with their heads down, as this time he could not overcome the giant from Vueltabajo.
London 2012 reaffirmed him at the top, as he also won decisively against his five rivals, including in the semifinals against one who worried many much less than the Cuban: the Turkish Riza Kayaalp. In the final, he completed his performance by defeating the Estonian Heiki Nabi.
An unforgettable anecdote for me was the interview I conducted that day after the Cuban's second victory with the three-time Olympic champion, the Russian Alexandr Karelin, who told me that "Mijaín was good, but not good enough to win the Olympic Games three times."
How much would I give to be able to talk to Karelin to see if he tells me that he can't win his fifth gold medal! I imagine he wouldn't dare.
Between Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 (2021), he would add another nine wins without his opponents being able to score against him.
In the finals of both competitions, the Cuban would surpass his perennial rival, the Turk Kayaalp, and the Georgian Iakobi Kajaia.
Fortunately, I have been able to share several important events with Mijaín, his first three Olympic Games, versions of the Pan American Games, training sessions, and he has always seemed to me like a big kid, an inspiration to his teammates.
He arrived at the national team very young and was nicknamed "the kid". The kid shared a room on his trips abroad and in Cerro Pelado with another exceptional wrestler, the double Olympic champion Filiberto Azcuy, from whom he learned his fighting spirit, never considering rivals.
Mijaín also recognizes the Olympic monarch of Barcelona 92 in his category, Héctor Milián, as a father and teacher.
Paris opens its arms to skill, intelligence, muscular strength, and intellect… Paris could witness an immeasurable feat: Mijaín López's fifth Olympic title!
This time, in the absence of the Turkish Riza Kayaalp and the Russian Serguey Semenov, the main rival will be the young Iranian Amin Mirzazadeh, who has a style based on greco-roman wrestling and pushing, which according to the experienced coach and now analyst Daniel Gómez, will not surpass Mijaín, especially when they reach the ground.
Our team has many weapons to assert itself even in its 42 years of experience!
First under the guidance of the duo of Pedro Val and Carlos Ulacia, and now with another pair that took the baton very well, Raúl Trujillo and Héctor Milián, Mijaín López has written a glorious chapter in Olympic history that will have its epilogue on the upcoming fifth of August, a date when the 130-kilogram gladiators will storm the Parisian mat.
What do you think?
COMMENTFiled under: