WRESTLER HAILS FIFTH GOLD AS BIGGEST WIN

Cuban Lopez retires on historic high after 20 straight unbeaten Greco-Roman bouts

- David Lee

Few outside Cuba or the wrestling world would have heard of Mijain Lopez, but on Aug 6, the 41-year-old staked his claim as the greatest Olympian of all time as he beat Chile's Yasmani Acosta 6-0 in the 130kg Greco-Roman final.

Other than the Cuban, only six other athletes, including American swimming greats Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky, have won four straight Olympic golds in the same individual event. Meanwhile, American basketballers Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi won five consecutive women's team golds from Athens 2004 to Tokyo 2020.

But at the temporary facility at Champ de Mars, Lopez surpassed them all with his individual fivepeat to cement his legacy.

The 1.98m man mountain finished fifth in his Olympic debut at Athens 2004, but has not been beaten in 20 bouts at the Summer Games since.

Asked to describe each of his Olympic triumphs, Lopez said: "Beijing youth, London - transcendence, Rio - effort, Tokyo sacrifice, Paris - joy.

"What's great is the joy. This was a result that I was craving, but also for the whole world and my country.

The reward of a lifetime of working hard with the help of everyone and my family. It is my biggest win.