Mijaín López
Havana, Aug 14 (RHC) - The entire world press has surrendered in recent days at the feet of wrestler Mijain Lopez, five-time Olympic champion in Paris. The Spanish news agency EFE selected the Cuban as the great protagonist of Latin American sport in Paris, in a list of the 10 most outstanding figures in the region.
The Cuban wrestler, in the 130 kg category, was proclaimed Olympic champion for the fifth consecutive time, something that no one has achieved so far and which made him surpass the Americans Michael Phelps (swimming), Carl Lewis (long jump) and Alfred Oerter (discus throw), the Danish Paul Elvstrom (sailing) and the Japanese Kaori Icho (wrestling).
Mijain was joined in the top ten Latin American athletes in Paris by Dominican sprinter Marileidy Paulino and Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, according to EFE.
Paulino won the gold medal in the 400 meters, after winning the final with an authoritative Olympic record of 48.17.
Paulino, coached by Cuban Yaseen Pérez, became the fourth fastest woman in the history of the discipline and beat the record held since Atlanta 96 by Frenchwoman Marie-Jose Perec.
As for Rebeca Andrade, she won the gold medal in floor exercise in Paris, ahead of the phenomenal Simone Biles.
Andrade took four medals from the Bercy Stadium, but especially stands out the gold medal in floor exercise, where she finished ahead of the American Simone Biles.
The Spanish news agency also highlights in its list the Argentine field hockey team, who won their third bronze along with two silver medals, shooter Adriana Ruano, winner of Guatemala's first Olympic gold medal with an Olympic record in the shot put, Colombian gymnast Ángel Barajas, winner of the first gymnastics medal for Colombia, silver in the fixed bar, and Argentine José Torres, who won Argentina's only gold medal in BMX cycling.
Completing the list of Latin America's most outstanding athletes in Paris are walker Daniel Pintado, winner of gold and silver in Paris in race walking, Osmar Olvera, the first Mexican to win two medals at the same Olympic Games in diving, and Brazilian soccer player Marta Vieira, the best in the world, who at 38 years of age was just one step away from the final in her sixth Olympic Games.
