I think the Greek Roman wrestler Mijain Lopez (Pinar del Rio 1982) is the most iconic figure in the Cuban sports at present. His records in the 21st century are incomparable for any of his fellowmen. His fans trust on him every year he will win and he does. He has been since 2005, a “man we are sure of”, the medal that few people doubt he won’t win; it can be predicted even with pride included.
After few months without activities in the top elite, he reappeared in Tashkent, Turkey with his fifth world crown reasserting he is still an extra class athlete.
About this and other issues, we dialogued with Mijain in his headquarters, the College for High Level Performance Athletes “Cerro Pelado” (Esfaar).
After your second Olympic medal in London 2012, you asked for a year rest. How much it benefited you?
It was great, I needed a time after more than 20 years wrestling, and I almost always I had to lose weight. And besides that, in the last decade I get to the finals in the most important events and that demanded great devotion and sacrifice. I felt exhausted and decided to make a stop to rest and treat injuries. So I gave the opportunity to win, to other young athletes in my division. There were also, other personal problems I had the chance to give solutions.
Before the match in London, you said your greater adversary is your weight. Did you ever feel, your career was in danger?
Yes. After those Olympic Games, it would be very difficult to stay in the 120 Kg. Making those sacrifices would put in danger my health. I was lucky they were valuing to augment pounds and I was hopeful.
“I was worried to be defeated in Tashkent; it would have been a hard blow for me in that moment”
After all, they passed category 130 Kg. a decision that seemed to be just for you. What has it been for you?
I fact, the original division got back. At the beginning, when I was weighting 107 Kg. I wrestled with men that were just at the maximum limit allowed. I now hope I can have my revenge (laughs). It has been a relive, I easily keep my weight and I am still quick and explosive as usual. When I weighted 120 Kg., I ended exhausted the fights, I am stronger now.
At the same time, the international federation innovated in wrestling regulations and punctuations. Do you agree with those changes?
I was in a way afraid before traveling to World Championship in Tashkent because it was going to be the first level test in the new division and also with that recently passed new system. However, it benefits me because the referees try not to decide the combats when one or both wrestlers manage to mark any technical point. In my case, I am always in advantage in the four-point position and I corner the adversary.
The referee has gained prominence in the definition of the fights and that can be dangerous. What do you think?
They can influence in a result, but above all in fights that are zero-zero and they should pronounce. I concentrate to decide on the canvas so the referees cannot demand me.
Were you under pressure in Tashkent Competition?
A little, not for the quality of the adversaries, but for the new things we have commented about and because I cannot stand to lose. I was worried to be defeated, I should say so, and it would have been a hard blow for me in that moment.
Which was the information you had from Budapest World Championship in 2013?
I am neither used to watch the fights in the world competitions nor get into the business of my adversaries, because I have the tendency to go wrong. I asked my coach the main information, basically the winners, and I focused by training in according to the characteristics of my adversaries.
And what did you find when I arrived to the final weighting?
I appreciated a really high level and saw several young wrestlers taller than I and stronger too. I had to pull myself together to that impression because I was the favorite and I wanted to win, but it left teachings to face in the future.
The final combat vs. the Russian Bilial Makhov ended 1×0 and strongly call the attention of the fans…
People ask me now for the Russian, they do not remember the Turkish Riza Kayaalp anymore. Makhov is an experienced wrestler in free style, five times world champion (two as junior), but he had just enter the Greek Roman, so I did not know him. I could not make any mistake fighting for the silver medal, so I did the job as usual; I turned him passive and used my favorite technique, the unbalance, later I stood the fight and in one way or another I won it 1×0. I am neither in conditions to win 8×0 or 10×0, just win.
Besides that, there were other conditions. Many Russians were watching the combat, among then, the legendary Alexander Kerelin and they assigned the same referee that whistled me in the previous presentation, which made me feel a little tense. But nothing else, you’ll see that in the next fight I’ll win easier.
The final with Kayaalp became a revenge of what happened in 2011 in Turkey, when he, incredibly won you in front of his audience…
By then, I had physical problems and I lost, but in London I indisputably won. This time, I was psychologically prepared, I had studied him well, and I combated with all since the beginning. I turned him passive and in minute three I launched him two unbalanced techniques one after the other and the history ended.
Is it convenient for Kayaalp the rise in category?
He is shorter than I am and in weighting he reached the 123 Kg., four below me.
“We should naturally attend the games for the third Olympic medal. We have to train and get ready for a hard competition.”
After so many awards… what was so especial in this fifth crown?
Winning for me was to keep on wrestling. Fancy that! Two years ago, I jokily said in an interview that if they passed the regulation of 130 Kg., I will “kill” an adversary on the canvas! I couldn’t miss.
There are the Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz left in this campaign. It is the only title pending in your brilliant career. It seems to be a little challenge…
It would be easy apparently, but the adversaries are there and we have to do the adequate job. I will fight as if I were in a world championship.
Next year, in the world championship, you could add your sixth golden medal. Is there any special motivation?
The special thing is to win and get a ticket to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016. There is nothing more special.
If you do it, you’ll have the same world medals as Felix Savon, Javier Sotomayor and Daniel Nunez, and just bellow Ivan Pedroso (9)…
I did not remember that data. It would be an honor for me to reach that level.
What would happen in Rio 2016?
We should naturally attend the games for the third Olympic medal. We have to train and get ready for a hard competition. The goal is to win, there is no other one. The 20 best worldwide will be there in my division and I should have between three or four fights. We know how things are!
What would you do afterwards?
I still don’t. We’ll see.
Will you be the best individual athlete of the year in Cuba?
Many people were waiting for my fifth golden medal and I brought it. I did it for my people and my career. I don’t want to talk about that election, because I hope there is a fair voting. I prefer to ratify our fans that every time I get on the canvas, I will wrestler for the golden medal.
