Cuban wrestler Mijain Lopez Nunes was golden yet again at the Olympics on Tuesday, but that’s no real surprise. It’s the colour he’s almost only ever known.
Sixteen years after taking Greco-Roman wrestling gold in Beijing, the 41-year-old did it again, defeating Chile’s Yasmani Costa Fernandez 6-0 in the men’s 130-kilogram division. In doing so, it gave him an Olympic record five gold medals in the same event.
Six other athletes have claimed gold in the same event on four occasions, most recently American Katie Ledecky in 800-metre freestyle swimming.
Beijing, London, Rio, Tokyo, and now Paris … Lopez Nunes has won them all.
The only blemish on Lopez Nunes’ record came in 2004 in Athens when the then 21-year-old placed fifth.
Lopez Nunes celebrated by playfully executing a throw on his coach, tossing him to the mat. And then he marked the end of his Olympic wrestling career by removing his shoes and leaving them behind in the ring.
As he walked off, arm-in-arm with his coach in tears, it’s safe to say few will be able to fill them.
