Cuban wrestlers Mijaín López and Yasmani Acosta, now representing Chile, advanced to the semifinal round of the 130-kilogram Greco-Roman wrestling category at the Paris 2024 Olympics this Monday. Fate has steered these longtime friends on different paths toward the gold medal match, and both are making steady progress towards the decisive bout.
Undoubtedly, the main attraction is López, the reigning champion from the 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, 2016 Rio de Janeiro, and 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Known as the "Giant of Herradura," he is striving for his fifth Olympic gold, despite speculation about his potential defeat. In fact, the renowned American magazine Sports Illustrated predicted he would take the bronze, favoring Iran's Amir Mirzazadeh, the 2023 Belgrade World Champion. However, that prediction fell flat as the 41-year-old López defeated his rival in his second match.
The five-time world champion capitalized on his opponent’s passivity and managed a takedown to score three points. Although his opponent clawed back one point, he could do no more. Earlier, López had easily won his opening match, defeating South Korea's Lee Seung-chan 7-0.
Acosta's journey, after opting to leave Cuba in 2015, has been somewhat more arduous but has seen him successfully execute his combat strategy. In his debut, he triumphed 1-1 (scoring the last point) over Bulgaria's Kiril Milenov and subsequently ousted one of the favorites, Egypt's Abdellatif Mohamed (2-1), a multiple-time world medalist.
Later tonight in Paris, Mijaín López will face Azerbaijan's Sabah Shariati, while Yasmani Acosta will compete against China's Lingzhe Meng. The victors will advance to the grand final, which, given the current trajectory, might just have an all-Cuban flavor.
FAQs on Cuban Wrestlers at Paris 2024 Olympics
For those interested in the potential face-off between Mijaín López and Yasmani Acosta, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
Who is Mijaín López?
Mijaín López is a Cuban Greco-Roman wrestler, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, aiming for his fifth title at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Who is Yasmani Acosta?
Yasmani Acosta is a former Cuban wrestler who now represents Chile. He has made significant strides in the wrestling world since leaving Cuba in 2015.
What are the chances of Mijaín López and Yasmani Acosta meeting in the final?
Both wrestlers have advanced to the semifinals. If they win their respective matches, they will face each other in the final match, making it an all-Cuban showdown.