![]() ![]() There were still 10 seconds left on the clock to end the gold medal match, however Kajaia accepted he was too far behind on points to win and conceded the match to Mijaín López. He beat Alin Alexuc (Romania) 9-0 8-0 to Amin Mirzazadeh (Islamic Republic of Iran) and 2-0 to Riza Kayaalp (Turkey) to reach the grand final and face Iakobi Kajaia (Georgia). ![]() And in Tokyo 2020?ĭespite having to stop training for an extended time due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mijaín was still the favorite to win the Olympic gold and far exceeded the expectations of the Cuban people and his followers. Also nicknamed ‘El Terrible’, although he prefers to be called ‘ El Guerrillero de Cuba‘, he arrived at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016 with all the confidence to ‘three-peat’ at the Gold medal podium. His unbeaten path continued at the London 2012 Olympic Games, where he beat all his rivals, demonstrating his power, the result of the effort, perseverance and discipline with which he prepares every day. In 2008 he was the Cuban delegation flag bearer at the Beijing Olympics and since winning his first Gold medal there, he has not lost a match. Mijaín López at the Olympic Games from Beijing 2008 to Rio 2016Įvery time he steps on the mat, Mijaín López uses strength to knock down his rivals, so he has become the most dominant athlete in Greco-Roman wrestling in recent times. And, like the Greek hero ‘Hercules’, endowed with almost unlimited strength, endurance, agility and superhuman reflexes, the legend of Mijaín López was just being born. From then on, he would continue to train and never know defeat again. López did good for a 22 year old, who his brother Michel remembers as “spoiled, grumpy and a trouble-maker”. His father, concerned for his health, tried to persuade him to give up the sport but the young athlete persevered and continued.įour years later he would go to his first Olympic Games ( Athens 2004) where he finished fifth after losing to Russian Khasan Baroev, who won the gold medal. His career could have been cut short, as at the age of 13 he suffered a fractured tibia and fibula during a competition. “As soon as he was seen by the wrestling coach, he held on to him,” his mother explained in an interview with AFP. Even though he tried boxing, he dedicated himself to wrestling since he was 10 years old. ![]() His brothers Misael and Michel practiced rowing and boxing and tried to instill him with a taste for those sports. Since he was a child, Mijaín López developed his enormous physical strength by running after animals and carrying boxes of vegetables and fruits. Mijain López Photo: IG Olympic WrestlingĪt 39 years of age, Mijaín López is not only a four-time Olympic champion, he is also a five-time World Champion and five-time Pan American Games champion in Greco-Roman wrestling and undoubtedly a worthy representative of Afro-Latino heritage during Black History Month. Today, we repost it following the same purpose.Īt 6’5” and 291 lbs., Mijaín López made history at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo joining Americans Carl Lewis (long jump), Michael Phelps (200 meter styles) and Al Oerter (discus throw) as the only athletes to win gold medals in four consecutive Olympic games for the same event (2008, 2012, 20). Note: The award for Musician of the Year was divided into Male, Female and Group awards from 2004 to 2007.This article was originally published in February 2022 as part of a project to celebrate the legacy and valuable contribution of Afro-Latino athletes for Black History Month. The event currently has approximately 20 categories, including the Musician of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and genre awards in pop, rock, modern rock, metal & hardcore, folk, dance & electronic, hip hop, R&B & soul, and jazz & crossover music. At the 18th Awards ceremony, they became the first artist to win Song of the Year twice. 7-time award winner BTS made history in 2019 by becoming the first artist to win Musician of the Year two years in a row. Kiha & The Faces is the only artist to win all three Grand Prizes (Musician, Album & Song of the Year.) The band is also the joint most decorated artist in KMA history with 7 awards, along with BTS. The first ceremony was held in 2004, and is regarded as one of the most prestigious music awards in the country. ![]() Unlike other major South Korean music awards, which largely rely on record sales to determine winners, the Korean Music Awards distributes awards based on the recommendations of a panel of judges consisting of music critics, radio show producers, academics, and other professionals within the industry. The Korean Music Awards ( Korean: 한국대중음악상 lit. Korean Popular Music Awards) is an annual South Korean music awards show that honors both mainstream and underground musical artists from a variety of genres. ![]()
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