Carrying the Cuban flag and the country on his back, Mijaín López began to unlace his shoes. Camera lights flashed as López appeared on the big screen for thousands of adoring fans. Roars and cries echoed through the arena as the crowd waited in anticipation.  

One shoelace at a time. The world seemed to wind down. Slowly, the laces began to loosen. One shoe at a time. Both shoes grew loose as López swiftly took them off and placed them at the center of the wrestling mat.

Though a silent gesture after a great victory, everyone understood. A long-held tradition in the wrestling world, this marked retirement. 

A well-known and lasting tradition in wrestling culture for high-level wrestlers is their style of retirement. Wrestlers mark their retirement by leaving their wrestling shoes on the center of the mat after their last match. Many of these take place at the World Championships, and even the Olympics. 

On the Olympic stage of the Summer 2024 Olympics, Mijaín López did exactly that. In addition to marking the end of his over 20 year competitive wrestling career, López made history after securing his placement on the Olympic podium. In comparison to Michael Phelps’ 23 medals, 5 medals may seem small, but what makes López special is that he is the only athlete to have won 5 medals consecutively within the same event. Entering his first Olympics in 2004 and placing fourth, López developed a strong will and momentum that led him to win gold at every Summer Olympic event since. 

At the age of 41 years old, Mijaín López spent roughly 25 years of his life in wrestling where 20 of those years were spent wrestling internationally and competitively. His retirement represented not only the end of his wrestling career, but also placed a greater emphasis on his legacy. López , one of the very few of the thousands of Olympic athletes that return every four years, has been able to maintain the discipline and dedication to stay at the top for decades. Mijaín López dominated the heavyweight category so that young, aspiring wrestlers couldn’t even make a dent in his record. Maintaining his strength, physique, and endurance for decades is one of the greatest feats in sports history.

Born August 20th, 1982, Mijaín López, inspired by his older brother, Michel López, who would later go onto the Olympic stage as a boxer, took upon wrestling. As a young boy in the rural town of Pinar del Río, Cuba’s most western province, López had a fascinating strength and technique from a young age. As he grew taller among all his peers, he disliked the boxing route of his brother and was drawn into wrestling. He later joined Cuba’s rigorous state-run sports system (referred to as National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation or INDER), which scouts out young athletes with great foundations in sports or impressive athleticism and trains them to become elite athletes. During these years, López spent months to years toning and defining his skill and technique with strict training, discipline, and a concrete willpower for greatness.

“It wasn’t easy, but my family believed in me, and I believed in what wrestling could do for my future,” he later said in an interview, commenting on this period of his life.

This encouraging support system, alongside a relentless work ethic, enabled him to make a true name for himself within Cuba. He went from wrestling with partners in local gyms to working with coaches all over the international sport.

The Rise of a Legend

At the age of 22, López made his Olympic debut in Athens in 2004. Competing in the 120 kg weight class, which was the heaviest weight class at the time, he finished fourth narrowly missing the podium. Thus, López strove for a better performance, working harder than ever before.

Stepping into Beijing at the 2008 Summer Olympics, he entered with one goal in mind: victory. He believed that his intense training would pay off, and it did; proving to be the key to success as he dominated all his competition. He took home gold, making an incredible leap from fourth to first. This progression amazed the wrestling community and placed Cuba in the spotlight once more.

His journey didn’t end after a single gold medal, he desired more. Gold followed in London (2012), Rio de Janeiro (2016), and again in Tokyo (2020). He became the only male wrestler in Olympic history to win gold in four different Games in the same event.

López was not only consistent with his Olympic medals, but also his win streak. As the World and Olympic Champion in the 130 kg weight class, he never lost a single match on the international stage. For 14 years, he continued on this streak and wiped out the competition. In many of his matches, he used his signature move—a body lock and lift. This dangerous combo was dreaded by all of his opponents. 

What Set Him Apart

López was no ordinary young boy in Pinar del Río. Already at such a young age, he demonstrated a great feat of strength, agility, and mobility. Surpassing his peers, he was a natural talent from the start. His physique is nearly mythical: standing at 6’5” and weighing over 280 pounds, he is a combination of strength of a heavyweight and the agility of a middleweight. 

Not only was his strength and agility key to his success, but also his mentality, discipline, and grit. The true key to success at the high-end international competitive level is established from a line of hard work and resilience. He was focused and rarely showed any sort of emotion on the mat. His style was clean, controlled, and calculated with every movement having a grander purpose.

Off the mat, however, he was charismatic and humble. Known for his wide smile and respectful demeanor, he carried himself with the dignity of a true champion. For young wrestlers around the world, especially in Latin America, López became a beacon of what could be achieved through hard work and dedication.

His legacy isn’t just built on wins, but on how he represented his country and the sport.

Wrestling For More Than Medals

For López, wrestling wasn’t just about personal achievement—it was about his country, Cuba. Every match was a tribute to the island that raised him. INDER, despite limited resources, helped López become the elite athlete he is today.

In interviews, he often credited his coaches, his family, and his nation for his success. “Without them,” he said, “none of this would be possible.”

In spite of the economic hardships that weighed on the country, López’s victories became a source of national pride. For many Cubans, seeing their flag raised with him on the podium was a moment of unity and joy.

The Final Chapter

In 2024, at 41 years old, López stepped onto the Olympic mat one last time. Though age had caught up with many of his peers, López still remained at the top against younger opponents. Though he didn’t secure another medal in his final appearance, he left with something far more powerful: respect. He gained a legacy within the wrestling community—from his fans, opponents, and from the sport itself.

When he unfastened those laces and laid his shoes down, it wasn’t just an ending—it was a salute and a final bow from a titan who had given his life to the sport.

The Legacy of Mijaín López

López’s achievements—four Olympic golds, five world titles, over two decades of dominance—are unparalleled in wrestling. But perhaps more lasting is the inspiration he offers to future generations.

Young wrestlers in Cuba and beyond look to his story not just for the medals, but for the message: that greatness comes from commitment, from sacrifice, and from never backing down in the face of adversity.

He showed that it’s not where you come from, but how far you’re willing to go.

When he unfastened those laces and laid his shoes down, it wasn’t just an ending—it was a salute and a final bow from a titan who had given his life to the sport.