Mijaín López dedicates his victory in Paris to his father: "Life did not allow him to reach this moment."

The invincible Cuban fighter Mijaín López dedicated his fifth Olympic title, with which he reaffirmed his status as a legend in the sport, to his father Bartolo, who passed away in September 2023.

In an emotional statement after the victory, the now five-time Olympic champion expressed his satisfaction for keeping his promises and dedicated the victory especially to his dad.

"I am happy to fulfill what I promised and with the people of Cuba. This triumph is dedicated especially to my dad Bartolo, may God rest his soul," expressed visibly moved the one who achieved the greatest sporting feat in the last 128 years in the modern Olympic Games.

In an interview with the official Cuban press, Mijaín responded: "My dad couldn't see it, but he fights with me. This medal is dedicated to him. Life didn't allow him to reach this moment, but he fulfilled his duty, leaving the best in the world on earth."

López enhanced his legend on Tuesday by defeating his fellow countryman Yasmani Acosta (6-0), representing Chile, to become a five-time Olympic champion in a historic final at 130 kilograms in Greco-Roman style at Paris 2024.

The triumph represented the island's first gold in the current competition under the five rings.

Her only defeat in the Olympic Games occurred on the distant August 24, 2004, against the Russian Kashan Baroev. After that, only victories followed in Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio de Janeiro 2016, and Tokyo 2020.

He is considered one of the best athletes in history.

Cubans also celebrated the silver won by Acosta, a wrestler trained on the island who decided to emigrate in 2015, precisely in search of greater opportunities with López in the same division.

In statements to the official newspaper Granma, López asserted that it would be "a very beautiful final, of brotherhood. Yasmani Acosta and I started in this a long time ago, we were just kids, and now we will compete for an Olympic title."

After the fight, Mijaín confirmed that he is retiring from active sports. With a slow gait, he returned to the competitive stage and gave a legendary farewell in front of thousands of people present at the Champ de Mars Arena: he took off his shoes and placed them on his knees, with tears in his eyes, on the Olympic logo printed on the mat.