Mijaín is considered the best Greco-Roman style wrestler in history. Photo taken from Radio Cadena Agramonte.

Havana, December 20 (RHC)-- Cuban wrestler Mijaín López, four-time Olympic champion, won the award for Best Male Athlete in the 57th edition of Prensa Latina's traditional Sports Poll on Monday.

At 39 years of age, Lopez, king of the super heavyweight category in the Greco-Roman style in Tokyo 2020, received 41 votes, ahead of Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi, second in the ranking with 19 votes.

Thus, the giant from Herradura, also a star under the five rings in the Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 editions, led the poll for the first time, becoming the second gladiator to achieve such a feat, after the leadership of his compatriot Raul Cascaret, in 1985.

Thus, the Caribbean athlete closes his umpteenth season full of success, adding, in addition, the award for Outstanding Performance in Tokyo 2020, from the Association of National Olympic Committees.

The considered best Greco-Cuban athlete in history was selected Athlete of the Year in Cuba, and shared that recognition in his province of Pinar del Río, together with Olympic gold medalist Roniel Iglesias (boxing).

The Prensa Latina poll, which this year gathered 103 media from 20 countries, came to life in 1964 and the first winner was Cuban sprinter Enrique Figuerola, Olympic runner-up that year in Tokyo in the men's 100-meter dash.

The top winners of the poll are Jamaica's Usain Bolt, with six (2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016), and Colombia's Caterine Ibargüen (five, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018), in both genders.