#WrestleParis

Paris 2024: Lopez confident in his quest for fifth Olympic gold

Sunday, July 21, 2024 - 06:14 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

PARIS (July 21) -- In the history of the Olympic Games, only one athlete has won the gold medals five consecutive times: Ireen Wüst. At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, the Dutch speed skater completed the milestone and etched her name into the history books when she won the 1,500m race.

No Summer Olympian has ever won gold medals in the same individual event five consecutive times. No wrestler has ever won five gold medals. All that could change in Paris. And the man sniffing at the record is Mijain LOPEZ (CUB).

The man they fondly call ‘Gigante de Herradura’ and ‘El Terrible’ currently holds the record of winning the same individual Olympic event four times along with swim legend Michael Phelps, track hero Carl Lewis, the American discus throw hero Al Oerter, the sailor from Denmark Paul Elvstrom and Kaori ICHO (JPN) who, like Lopez, has four gold medals.

Mijain LOPEZ (CUB)Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) winning the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Born on August 20, 1982, the super heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler made his first appearance at the Olympics in 2004. He was accompanied in the contingent by his elder brother Michel, a boxer (his other older sibling, Misael, was a rower). Michel won a bronze medal in the super-heavyweight division in Athens, a medal that continued Cuba’s historic dominance in boxing.

Lopez observed everything quietly at his maiden Games and when he returned to the biggest stage of all, in Beijing four years later, he would take the field by storm. The 6-foot-5-inch tall wrestler won a gold and repeated that feat in 2012, then in 2016 and the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

“I feel like it is a dream,” Lopez said. “I believe that it's a goal that I have had throughout my career. I have won four gold medals. I believe winning an Olympic gold medal is hard. So winning four and five is exceptional.”

Mijain LOPEZ (CUB)Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) defends his gold medal at 2012 London Olympic Games (Photo: United World Wrestling / Martin Gabor)

His stranglehold in the super heavyweight division at the Olympics has played side-by-side with his dominance at the World Championships – where he has five titles and three silver medals – and the nine Pan American Championships crowns that are to his name.

Lopez last competed at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. After beating Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) in the gold medal bout on superiority, he stayed away from the mat before resurfacing last year to renew his bid for a fifth Olympic gold.

In May 2023, he announced his intention to come back but didn’t straightaway dive into competition mode although he would have been the favorite to defend his Pan American Games title.

Mijain LOPEZ (CUB)Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) won his third gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Tony Rotundo)

But due to a personal loss in the weeks leading up to the Pan-Am Games, Lopez opted out of the competition and chose to prepare himself for the bigger battle. He watched from the sidelines as for the first time since 2003, a new face stood on the top of the podium at the Pan-Am Games.

All the while, Lopez had been training with single-minded focus at his bases in Varadero, the scenic beach resort roughly 150 km from Havana, and the Pelado High-Performance Centre in Havana.

In Paris, he might have to fight two battles simultaneously. The first against his aging body — he is 41 years old at the moment. And once he manages that, the Cuban will have to navigate through a tough field, especially since he isn’t among the seeded wrestlers in the 130kg category.

Mijain LOPEZ (CUB)Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) won his fourth gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Tony Rotundo)

Lopez has sounded unfazed. If anything, he is itching to better the record of one of his favorite athletes, someone he has called the greatest Olympian of all time – Phelps.

“The preparation is done. I feel in optimal condition and all wrestlers are motivated both in Cuba and internationally. It has been a very important time for me to keep the motivation to get to my sixth Olympic Games and fight for my fifth medal,” he said. “Something I am doing with great focus to be able to show the world that everything you have in mind, and want to achieve, can be achieved. I know it's in my mind, and I believe the possibility of achieving that result is high.”

Lopez wrestles in Paris on August 5 and 6.

#WrestleParis

Wrestling at Paris 2024: Lopez beats Mirzazadeh, Ozaki falls

Monday, August 5, 2024 - 12:41 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

Share this article

PARIS (August 5) -- Welcome to wrestling at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Day one here at the Champs de Mars Arena with Greco-Roman in 130kg and 60kg and Women's Wrestling in 68kg.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | PARIS 2024 NEWS

What a session of wrestling! Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) marches towards a fifth Olympic gold medal after reaching the semifinals at 130kg. He downed world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) 3-1. At 60kg, Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) vs Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) in the semifinal. 

In women's wrestling, Amit ELOR (USA) has Sol Gum PAK (PRK) while Blessing OBURODUDU (NGR) wrestles Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)

17:20: Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) looks like a man on a mission as he puts away Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) on his first chance of par terre, going back and forth for four exposures and a 9-0 win in 1:43 at Greco 60kg. That sets up a mouth-watering encounter with Sharshenbekov for a place in the finals.

17:17: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) pulls off one of the biggest victories of her career, scoring a takedown with seven seconds left to stun Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) 8-6 at women's 68kg after squandering a six-point lead. Zhumanazarova counters a single leg for a takedown and adds a roll, then picks up a second takedown to go up 6-0 at the break. Ozaki comes back in the second period with a takedown and gut wrench, then goes ahead on criteria with a takedown with 1:10 left. But Zhumanazarova still has some fight left in her, and gets behind on a single for the win.

17:15: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) rides a 4-point throw from par terre to a 9-0 victory over Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) to secure his place in the Greco 60kg semifinals.

17:07: Liguo CAO (CHN) gets a 4-point throw from par terre and that makes the difference in a 5-3 victory over a gutsy Raiber RODRIGUEZ (VEN) to advance to the Greco 60kg semifinals.

17:06: Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) relied on her wits and experience to defy the home crowd and get past Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) 6-2 and advance to the women's 68kg semifinals. Oborududu trailed 2-1 in the second period when she scored a takedown with 1:10 left. With Larroque pressing for the winning score, it was Oborududu who came up with a takedown to clinch the win.

17:03: A semifinal for Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) as he hangs on for a 2-1 win over Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) at 130kg. He will wrestle Lingzhe MENG (CHN) for a spot in the final

16:53: Teenager Sol Gum PAK (PRK) and a right shoulder injury prove too much for NISHA (IND), who can't hang on and is eliminated with a 10-8 loss at women's 68kg. Nisha was the dominant force, building up an 8-2 lead when she injured her shoulder during a Pak takedown. She could offer little resistance as Pak continued to score points until getting the winning takedown with 8 seconds left to earn a semifinal clash with Elor.

16:52: Lingzhe MENG (CHN) survived a second passivity call against himself to beat Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) 1-1 and enter the semifinal at 130kg in Greco-Roman

16:47: Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN), who ended the Tokyo Olympics in tears after losing to a Cuban in the Greco 60kg, showed no mercy for Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) as he cruised to an 11-1 victory. Fumita gets three rolls from par terre in the first period, then finishes off the proceedings with a 4-point headlock throw in the second.

16:39: Three-time Asian medalist Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) makes short work of Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG), reeling off a series of gut wrenches for a 9-0 victory in 1:48 at Greco 60kg.

16:40: Sabah SHARIATI (AZE) gets both the par terre to lead 2-0 against Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ). The Kazakh is then docked two points for his aggressive open hand. Shariati wins 4-0 to enter the semifinals against Lopez

16:37: Amit ELOR (USA) proves too much for Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) and she's comfortably into the women's 68kg semifinals with an 8-0 victory. Elor gets two takedowns and a stepout in the first period, then adds an activity point and takedown in the second.  

16:35: Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) uses a nice arm drag for a first-period takedown, then adds a second 2-point in the second in a 4-2 win over Enes BASAR (TUR) at Greco 60kg. Basar used the over-the-top jump to score a late takedown, but the clock ran out before he completed a turn.

16:30: Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) and Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) in the 130kg quarterfinal. Lopez defeated the Iranian in the Tokyo Olympics. In Paris, he gets the first par terre advantage and, hold your breath, gets a turn from par terre to lead 3-0 at the break! What a moment in the match. Three minutes to wrestle. Mirzazadeh used a much more aggressive approach in the second period. Lopez is called for passivity and is now in par terre. Mirzazadeh needs a turn to take the criteria lead. Mirzazadeh wants to resume in standing. That strategy from Iran will need three points for a win. Lopez is still standing tall over Mirzazadeh. Mijain LOPEZ beats Mirzazadeh 3-1 and moves into the semifinal

16:27: Like her compatriot minutes before Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) needs a comeback to get by Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) 8-3 at women's 68kg. Zhumanazarova trails 3-0 going into the second period when she hits a 4-point takedown, then tangles up Enkhsaikhan's legs and scores a pair of rolls. She will next face Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) for a place in the semifinals later tonight.

16:21: Two-time reigning world champion and top seed Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), aiming to become his country's first-ever gold medalist, survives a tough first test from neighbor Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ), scoring two takedowns in the second period for a 6-3 win at Greco 68kg.

16:20: World bronze medalist Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) pins age-group world champion Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) at 130kg. He moves into the quarterfinals. But it's time for the big one. Lopez vs Mirzazadeh

16:16: World 65kg champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) needs just 32 seconds to get past Soleymi CARABALLO (VEN) 10-0 to start her quest for the women's 68kg gold after missing out on Japan's place at her usual weight at 62kg.

16:14: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) spotted former world champion Linda MORAIS (CAN) an early takedown, but came back with three of her own in the second period for an 8-2 victory at women's 68kg. 

16:10: Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) hangs on to a 1-1 win over Kiril MILOV (BUL) at 130kg. Acosta got the passivity advantage in the second period which was enough for him to win 1-1. Milov, a regular at 97kg, moved to 130kg after Bulgaria was awarded a quota.

16:07: World bronze medalist Liguo CAO (CHN) hits a 4-point throw from par terre in the second period to secure a 6-2 victory over Moamen MOHAMED (EGY) at Greco 60kg. Cao was trailing 2-1 when he received the passivity point with 1:47 left to put him ahead on criteria, but sealed the deal with his big throw at the edge.

16:01: World bronze medalist Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), urged on by a loud partisan crowd in the Champs de Mars Arena, scores two takedowns in the first period and one in the second in a 6-0 victory over Tayla FORD (NZL).

15:59: Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) gets the par terre and never allows to Oussama ASSAD (MAR) to defend. He scores four turns and wins 9-0 to enter the quarterfinals at 130kg in Greco-Roman.

15:55: Raiber RODRIGUEZ (VEN) gives South America a rare victory by holding on to defeat two-time world medalist Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) 6-5 at Greco 60kg. Rodriguez, helped by a leg penalty, leads 6-1 before Mammadov scores a takedown with :45 left and adds a gut wrench to cut the gap to 1. Rodriguez then squirms out of a late takedown attempt to clinch the win and a place in the quarterfinals.

15:55: Lingzhe MENG (CHN) has a good warmup win over Jello KRAHMER (GER) at 130kg. He moves into the quarterfinals with a 4-1 win.

15:48: Sol Gum PAK (PRK) showed again how her country's wrestlers can never be underestimated when she outdueled former world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) in a 10-6 thriller at women's 68kg. The two traded takedowns throughout the bout and Ringaci led 6-4 when Pak went ahead on criteria with a takedown with :58 left. She then put the matter to rest with a late 4-point takedown.

15:42: Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) with a takedown in the second period to beat Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) 3-1 at 130kg. Both exchanged passivity points but Syzdykov kept the pressure up and got the takedown with just over a minute left in the bout.

15:39: World bronze medalist Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) gets started at Greco 60kg with a comfortable 9-0 victory over Refugee Team member Jamal VALIZADEH (EOR). Bakhramov was just unstoppable with his gut wrenches from par terre in ending the match at 3:52.

15:37: Asian bronze medalist NISHA (IND) bounces back after giving up an early 4-point takedown to Tatiana SOVA RIZHKO (UKR) at women's 68kg, scoring two takedowns in the second period for a 6-4 victory. Sova Rizhko used a nice reverse headlock-back trip combination for her 4 points. 

15:32: Victor Ciobanu (MDA), the 2021 world champion who finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, falls at the first stage at Greco 60kg to Se Ung RI (PRK). From par terre, Ciobanu gets a reverse lock and pulls Ri back and over his head for 2, but Ri responds with a front headlock roll for 4 that was originally given 2 but upgraded on a challenge. Ri then catches Ciobanu when he tries the desperation over-the-head jump, throws him to his back and records the fall with 1:02 left.

15:30: Two veterans at 130kg. 2012 London Olympic silver medalist Heiki NABI (EST) and Rio bronze medalist Sabah SHARIATI (AZE) on Mat C. Nabi gets the first par terre advantage and leads 1-0. Shariati gets the par terre in the second and leads 1-1 on criteria. Shariati maintains the lead and wins 1-1 on criteria

15:22: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) pulls a surprise at women's 68kg, knocking off Zagreb Open champion Feng ZHOU (CHN) 10-3. Choluj uses a beautiful fireman's carry to take a 4-1 lead into the second period. The match hits a key point when Choluj gets in deep for a takedown and Zhou tries a counter lift. That gives both 2 points, but Choluj rolls through it and lands on top for 2 more to go ahead 8-3. 

15:22: Four-time Olympic champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) sets up a quarterfinal against world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) at 130kg. He looks formidable in his 7-0 win over Seungchan LEE (KOR).

15:13: Beginning the action at Greco 60kg on Mat A, Enes BASAR (TUR) puts together an amazing rally to defeat Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) 8-7 in a battle of the world 63kg bronze medalists. Tibilov storms to a 7-0 lead in the first period, but Basar turns the tide in the second, scoring a takedown and gut wrench, then getting another gut wrench from par terre. An unsuccessful challenge of a late takedown attempt gives Basar his final point.

15:12: The women's 68kg competition gets started on Mat B with a clash of reigning world champions. Amit ELOR (USA), the gold medalist at 72kg, had little problem putting away the top-seed and world 68kg champion Buse TOSUN (TUR), scoring four takedowns in a 10-2 victory.

15:09: World champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) gets his first win as he beats Adam COON (USA) with no trouble. He scores a turn from par terre to lead 3-0 at the break. Coon gets the par terre in the second period but no turn for him. Mirzazadeh wins 3-1 and enters the quarterfinals.

15:00: Wresting at the 2024 Paris Games could not have had a better story to follow on day one. Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) is going for his fifth Olympic gold medal at the Olympics. No athlete has done that before.