Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, commemorated wrestler Mijaín López's historic fifth Olympic gold medal on the social media platform X, one year after his triumph at the Paris 2024 Games.

In his post, the Cuban leader wrote: "The fifth Olympic gold, the rival turned comrade, the shoes left on the mat, the promise kept to his father Bartolo, and the farewell to 32 years of wrestling. Mijaín's feat still moves us a year later. Thank you for giving us the greatest sporting emotion of our time."

A Legendary Career

Mijaín López Núñez made history at Paris 2024 by becoming the first athlete ever—regardless of gender—to win five consecutive Olympic golds in the same individual event, dominating the Greco-Roman 130 kg division. His unparalleled Olympic journey began with gold at Beijing 2008, followed by victories at London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020.

His final triumph in Paris was marked by a symbolic gesture: leaving his shoes on the mat, fulfilling a promise to his late father Bartolo and signaling his retirement after three decades in the sport. As Díaz-Canel noted, López’s legacy continues to inspire generations in Cuba and beyond.

The wrestler’s achievements solidify his status as one of the greatest Olympians of all time, leaving an indelible mark on both Cuban and global sports history.