AFP is republishing this article, which was chosen by the station's editor-in-chief as one of the best stories of the week.Photos and video by Adalberto Roque
In the history of the modern Olympic Games, which dates back to 1896, only one person, Dutch speed skater Irene Wust, has won five gold medals in five consecutive Games.
But Cuban wrestler Mijain López will aim to match her achievements when he lands in Paris for the sixth summer, despite not competing in more than two years.
“I'm going to make it,” the always confident Lopez told AFP.
“The mind has to be strong and the motivation has to be even stronger because there is fatigue and body aches,” he says, dripping with sweat after an intense three-hour training session on the Seroperado mat. he said while speaking. Havana High Performance Center.
Advertisement – SCROLL TO CONTINUE
If sweat and inspiration work in Paris, the 1.98-meter (6-foot-5-inch) Greco-Roman wrestler will surpass Americans such as Carl Lewis (long jump), Michael Phelps (swimming, 200-meter medley) and Al Oerter. will be ahead of other celebrities. (discus throw), Denmark's Paul Elvström (sailing), and Japan's Kaoru Icho (wrestling) won individual gold medals in four different competitions.
Three years ago, when the Cuban giant defeated Georgia's Yakobi Kajaia in the 130kg category at the Tokyo Games, which were postponed due to the coronavirus, on the eve of his 39th birthday, it was his passionate song. It was widely expected that He has not competed since then.
But the 41-year-old, who will turn 42 on August 20, just after the Paris Games, is determined to recommit to not only his opponents but also his own aging.
Advertisement – SCROLL TO CONTINUE
The first battle he had to fight was with himself to stabilize his weight below the required 130kg. He is still a few kilograms heavier, but his training is paying off.
Confidence is his watchword, both in his abilities and in his coach, Raul Trujillo, who led him to gold medals in Rio and Tokyo.
Lopez believes winning a fifth Olympic title is an “achievable goal.”
Advertisement – SCROLL TO CONTINUE
“It's a matter of listening to your coach and trusting all his training plans,” he says. “I'm going to try not to get hurt…and I'm going to go to Paris and fight.”
Lopez's Olympic journey began in Athens in 2004, when he was just 22 years old, competing in the 120kg class. He topped the qualifying pool, but faced eventual winner Hasan Baloev in the quarterfinals.
The loss in Athens was the only defeat in 18 Olympic games for Lopez, who has served as the flag bearer for the Cuban team at the past four opening ceremonies.
Advertisement – SCROLL TO CONTINUE
Four years later in Beijing, he turned the tables on Baloev, who was later stripped of his silver medal for doping, and repeated the success four years later in London.
Lopez also won gold in the 130kg category in Rio in 2016, her victory over Turkey's Riza Kayaarp celebrated with jubilant salsasimies on the mat, and again in Tokyo.
In Paris, it's all about the details.
Advertisement – SCROLL TO CONTINUE
“Preparations are progressing well,” he emphasizes.
“I think we accomplished exactly what we set out to do.
“We spent two months in training centers in Croatia and Bulgaria and were lucky enough to train with top athletes.”
This was an opportunity to test herself against the best wrestlers in her category, including China's Meng Lingzhe and Egypt's Mohamed Abdellatif, who are ranked fourth and fifth in the world respectively.
These training sessions, which took place in Europe in January and February, marked what he called “Mijain's flight to Paris”.
“It gave me the joy I was looking for. I feel happy,” he says.
Preparations will continue in the seaside resort of Varadero, 150 kilometers east of Havana, before heading to the Champ de Mars Arena, where López will look to elevate himself alongside Wust in the halls of Olympic legend.
“Everything will happen as usual,” he said breezily. “The truth is on the mat. I'm telling you, I'm going to do it.”
rd/lp/lab/dif/cpb/bsp/gj
