‘We are watching a gentleman’ – Olympic legend, 41, leaves boots on the mat to announce retirement after making history
OLYMPIC legend Mijain Lopez left his wrestling boots on the mat to announce his retirement after making history.
Lopez took gold in the men’s Greco-Roman wrestling 130kg category in Paris.
And he became the first Summer Olympian to win five consecutive gold medals in the same event.
The Cuban defeated Chile’s Yasmani Acosta in a 6-0 whitewash final and celebrated by hugging his coach.
He then untied his laces and left his boots on the mat – in the international symbol for a wrestler’s retirement.
The BBC commentator said: “We are seeing a gentleman who has become an Olympic legend.”
Lopez, 41, won his first gold in 2008 just four years after his Olympic debut in Athens.
And his sensational run of golds leaves him as one of the greatest Olympians of all time after bringing his glittering career to an end.
The five-time world champion said: “It’s been a sacrifice for a career lasting so many years.
“And it’s beautiful for the next generations so that they have something to aspire to.”
Paris Olympics with 300k condoms
Nearly 15,000 residents – around 10,500 of which are athletes – will be cramming into the Olympic village between July 26 and August 11.
To ensure the athletes feel at home, a number of provisions have been made by organisers.
One of these is the stocking of some 300,000 condoms, in theory enough for around two every day during the run of the Games.
A number of Olympic athletes have opened the door on their steamy lives behind-the-scenes when in camp, including huge sex orgies and parties.
London 2012 had claimed the title of “the raunchiest Games ever”, but the 150,000 condoms ordered paled in comparison to the 450,000 ordered for the Rio Games four years later.
Condoms have been laid on by organisers at every game since Seoul 1988, when it they were used to spread awareness of HIV and AIDS.
Even with an intimacy ban at Tokyo 2020 due to Covid-19, some 150,000 johnnies were handed out.
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Michael Phelps is considered the greatest Olympian of all time – with a record 23 gold medals to his name.
But the American swimmer only won four golds in a row and was left amazed by Lopez’s sensational feat.
Phelps, 39, said: “To be able to do that, it’s unheard of. There’s a reason why no one’s ever done it before.”