On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The Paris Olympics have been the host to numerous records, marking the most impressive feats in human history. When it comes to what may be the most impressive record, it feels impossible to quantify. However, some records that are set appear unbreakable. That ‘unbreakable’ moniker applies to Cuban Greco-Roman wrestler Mijain Lopez after he won five golds in five Olympic games. No athlete has ever recorded a gold in the same event in five straight Olympics, and no wrestler has ever won five gold medals, until Mijain Lopez.
Lopez Wins 2024 Olympic Gold; Retires On The Mat
Mijain Lopez was on top of Greco-Roman wrestling for over 20 years, and he solidified that dominance in the Paris Olympic Games. Lopez defeated Chile’s Yasmani Acosta in the gold medal match. After the match, Acosta took the loss with grace.
“I feel a mix of emotions,” he said. “I wanted to win gold, but at the same time, not so much because it’s Mijain, a legend in wrestling worldwide.”
After his perfect 6-0 performance, Lopez picked up his coaches in crushing embraces as fans clapped to the arena’s tune of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by the Eurythmics. Moments later, Mijain walked to the center of the mat and began to untie his shoes, ans was met with an eruption of applause. In wrestling, an athlete leaving their shoes on the mat is a sign of retiring from the sport. As Mijain placed his boots on the floor, it marked the end to arguably the greatest Olympic career of all time.
“It was time to say goodbye at the mat,” López said after his win. “What better opportunity is there for me to be here at a final match, to be able to fight with a fellow brother, and to win at an Olympic Games? There is no better way to say goodbye at the Olympic Games than to leave the door open for the next generation.”
Mijain’s Unprecedented Olympic Longevity
Cuba’s Mijain Lopez began his Olympic career in 2004 at just 21 years old in Athens, Greece. That year, Lopez left with a fifth-place finish. But since then Lopez has not missed a gold medal. In one of the most physically taxing Olympic sports, Lopez secured the gold in Bejing in 2008, London in 2012, Rio De Janeiro in 2016, Tokyo in 2020, and in his final masterpiece Paris in 2024.
From 25 years old to weeks shy of his 42nd birthday, Lopez continuously proved himself as the most talented heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler on the planet, earning him the nickname “El Terrible.” Such a feat has not been close to accomplished in combat sports, and will likely not occur again. The USA’s Katie Ledecky will have the chance to replicate similar results in the pool, as she aims for her fifth 800m gold in the 2028 Los Angeles games.
“To get to this point, the first thing you need is to love your sport, love what you do and show to the world that you are capable of winning with so little,” said Lopez as he left the sport for good.
More must-reads:
- Jordan Love's thumb surgery comes at inopportune time for Packers
- Celtics' ownership move should concern Lakers governor Jeanie Buss
- The 'American League WAR leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Brewers officially have a legit MVP candidate
On Tuesday night, the Milwaukee Brewers extended their winning streak to 11 games, and a key part of the team's momentum is a player who is in the National League MVP race. The red-hot Brewers entered Tuesday night facing one of the biggest threats to their winning streak, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes. Milwaukee torched Skenes for two home runs and four earned runs in 4.0 innings pitched. Brewers first baseman Andrew Vaughn added extra damage in the sixth inning with a three-run home run that increased Milwaukee's lead to 12-0. Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Vaughn is in the NL MVP race after his home run on Tuesday night. "Andrew Vaughn suddenly in top 10 NL MVP discussion with another 3-run HR, giving him 32 RBI since joining the Brewers," Nightengale posted on X. "He is the gift that keeps on giving from the White Sox. They are about to go 24-4 since his arrival." Vaughn has helped the Brewers overrun and then take a commanding lead on the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Following their 14-0 win Tuesday night, the Brewers extended their lead to 7.5 games over the Cubs for first place. Vaughn is turning out to be a steal for the Brewers, as Milwaukee only gave up veteran pitcher Aaron Civale and cash considerations for the first baseman on June 13. While Vaughn might have a case to be in the top 10, he has much work before he becomes a legitimate contender for the NL MVP. Per FanDuel, Los Angeles Dodgers star slugger Shohei Ohtani leads the race with -20000 odds. Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Kyle Schwarber is second with +1800 odds. Those two players have been more consistent this season, whereas Vaughn has come on strong since leaving Chicago.
King of New York: Pete Alonso breaks major Mets all-time record
Pete Alonso is now the New York Mets' all-time home run king. With his opposite-field, two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night, Alonso clubbed the 253rd and 254th home runs of his Mets career, moving him into sole possession of first place on the team's all-time list. He moved two home runs ahead of the previous record-holder, Darryl Strawberry, who hit 252 home runs with the team between the 1983 and 1990 seasons. Here is a look at his record-setting home run. Later in the bottom of the sixth inning, Alonso hit his 254th home run: Along with the all-time Mets home run lead, Alonso is also the Mets' single-season home run leader with 53 home runs during the 2019 season. Strawberry congratulated Alonso on breaking his record: His home runs on Tuesday were his 27th and 28th of the season. It is a big deal for Alonso because there was some doubt this past offseason if he would have a chance to actually set this record. Even though he was close, the uncertainty around his future given his free-agent status created a lot of questions about where he would play. Ultimately, the Mets re-signed him to a two-year, $54 million contract that includes an opt-out clause following the 2025 season. That opt-out will again create some uncertainty about his future, but it is pretty clear Alonso still has a lot of power left in his bat. Whether he returns to the Mets or goes somewhere else, he will remain the franchise's greatest home run hitter for the foreseeable future. He is now on top of the record books for the single season and career.
Bryson DeChambeau divulges Scottie Scheffler's biggest advantage
We all know Scottie Scheffler is the best golfer on the planet by a fairly large margin, but what makes him so much more consistent than other stars in professional golf? Bryson DeChambeau, one of Scheffler's biggest rivals in major championships, thinks he knows the answer. In Tuesday's appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," DeChambeau detailed how Scheffler dominates the PGA Tour weekly. "He's got the best spin and distance control I've ever seen," DeChambeau said. "He controls the golf ball from a spin perspective so much better than everybody else. Like, if you're 175 yards out, and it's 10 miles [an hour] into the wind, he knows how to control the flight and spin to get that ball to land right next to the hole every time. Probably since Tiger [Woods], he's the best that we've seen." The stats confirm DeChambeau's breakdown. Scheffler has ranked first on the PGA Tour in strokes gained on approach in three straight seasons. He also ranks first in proximity to the hole and greens in regulation percentage over the last four years. Iron play is Scheffler's superpower, but it wasn't always that way. "I played with him in college a bunch, and I've said it before, but he's definitely improved since college for sure," DeChambeau said with a chuckle. "It's impressive to see what he's done, and we're all aspiring to do that. That's something I've gotta get better at. I can hit it farther than him. I can hit it probably straighter than him. I can make just as many putts as him, but, really, it's about my iron play right now and wedges to get a little more consistent." Iron play is the biggest indicator of success in professional golf. If you're giving yourself more birdie chances from close range than anyone in the field, you're going to have the best chance to win by Sunday afternoon. No one is better at hitting specific distances more consistently than Scheffler. Just look at how accurate he is. DeChambeau has the best chance to catch Scheffler as the best player in the world because he's elite off the tee and on the greens, but that won't happen unless he makes a major improvement to his iron game.
The Commanders should take a flyer on this former third-round pick who just became available to improve a major team need
Dan Quinn said in a press conference recently that the Washington Commanders will always be willing to add to its roster if it helps improve certain positions. That same day, they hosted 14 players for workouts and signed three of them. The Commanders are likely not done moving pieces around and trying out players, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if they took a look at a player that just became available. Adam Peters should take a flyer on former third-round pick Brian Asamoah II to improve the depth at linebacker and possibly more. Recent moves showed their opinions on the position The team wasted no time moving on from LB Dominique Hampton, who was a recent fifth-round pick of Peters after just one preseason game. Hampton was a liability at LB, and the team needed more flexibility on special teams as well. The next corresponding move made was the signing of veteran LB Duke Riley, who directly replaces Hampton and can play both sides. Riley is 31 years old, though, and no one is sure if he will actually stick on the roster. It wouldn't surprise me if the team added more options as roster cuts start making players available, like Asamoah II, who was released by the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday. Asamoah II was drafted by the Vikings with the 66th overall pick back in 2022, but never could carve out a sustainable role on the defense. He's only played a total of 70 snaps on defense over the last two seasons after falling down the depth chart, but he's still only 25 years old. Maybe learning behind Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner could go a long way in his development. He also fits the mold of what Peters looks for as a freak athlete who had an 8.90 Relative Athletic Score when he was working out for the NFL draft. The potential has always been there for Asamoah II. Jordan Magee is still hurt, and Nick Bellore is 36 years old and only plays on special teams. Riley is the next man up with rookie Kain Medrano, so the depth is a major weak point of the defense right now, and they also need someone who can be versatile on special teams. Asamoah II did have a major role on special teams for the Vikings though, and he logged almost 800 snaps on that side of the ball over the last three seasons. The special teams efforts in the first preseason game showed that they need some backup help as well. The Commanders have a real roster need at backup linebacker as well as special teams tacklers, and Asamoah II could provide both while the young project continues to develop. Keep an eye on the Commanders making more changes before the season starts.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
