Cuban wrestler Mijaín López has achieved an unprecedented feat at the Olympic Games, becoming the first athlete in history to win five consecutive gold medals in the same event. On Tuesday, just shy of his 42nd birthday, López clinched the championship in the 130 kg category of Greco-Roman wrestling by defeating Chilean-born Cuban Yasmani Acosta 6-0, with whom he previously trained.

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López's victory took place amid a surge of emotion at the Arena Campo de Marte, where the crowd erupted in a thunderous ovation. Spectators repeatedly chanted "López, López," celebrating the establishment of a historic record that seems set to endure for many years.

With this win, Mijaín López extends his unbeaten streak to 21 Olympic matches, having won every appearance at the Games since Beijing 2008. His remarkable career in Greco-Roman wrestling has placed him above other sports legends like Michael Phelps, Carl Lewis, Alfred Oerter, and Paul Elvstrom, who had left their mark on Olympic history in different disciplines.

López’s journey to this achievement began at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, where he won his first gold medal in the 120 kg category. He continued his dominance in London 2012 and Rio 2016, switching to the 130 kg category at Tokyo 2020 and solidifying his supremacy at Paris 2024.

Mijaín López's victory not only highlights his skill and dedication but also his ability to remain at the top for over two decades.