Mijain Lopez's Pursuit of a Fifth Olympic Gold in Wrestling

Cuban wrestler Mijain Lopez is set to compete for his fifth Olympic gold in Greco-Roman wrestling. Two weeks before his 42nd birthday, Lopez advanced to the final after defeating Azerbaijan's Sabah Saleh Shariati. He ties the record for most Olympic wrestling medals and plans to retire after the final.

Cuban Greco-Roman wrestler Mijain Lopez is on the verge of making history with a shot at his fifth Olympic gold medal. The veteran athlete, nearing his 42nd birthday, overcame Azerbaijan's Sabah Saleh Shariati 4-1 on Monday, securing his place in the 130-kilogram category final.

Despite skepticism from some quarters, Lopez has proven his critics wrong, clinching at least a silver and tying West Germany's Wilfried Dietrich for the most Olympic wrestling medals with five. 'I know some people were skeptical, but I knew I was ready for this,' Lopez said through a translator, emphasizing his desire to bring joy to his country.

Lopez announced his retirement post-final, saying, 'We need to make some space for those who are coming into the sport. Wrestling has been the love of my life, for all my life.' He will face Yasmani Acosta Fernandez of Chile, a fellow Cuban who moved to find better opportunities. Lopez expressed excitement about their upcoming match, citing their brotherhood and shared heritage.

(With inputs from agencies.)