Cuba’s Oscar Pino Hind’s was the cynosure of all eyes during the 2019 world championships as the heavy-weight from Cuba reached finals for the first time in his career. He ultimately lost the gold medal to Riza Kayalp of Turkey but announced to the world that he is ready to take mettle of great Mijain Lopez forward in the 130kg Greco-Roman category. But little did the world of wrestling knew that the 26-year-old Hinds have to give up on his Olympic Quota for Lopez.
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In December, one of the greatest Olympic wrestler of all time Lopez announced that he is returning to the wrestling mat and will compete in his favorite 130kg Greco-Roman category. This announcement has led to Pino Hinds made the ultimate sacrifice.
The 2019 World Championships silver medallist in Greco-Roman 130kg has now officially announced that he is moving to freestyle category of 125kg and will give up on Olympic quota to make way for the three-time Olympic Champion Lopez.
Be it the wrestling world championships or the Pan-American championships, Pino Hinds has won most of his big medals in the Greco-Roman wrestling. Other than 2019 world silver medal, Hinds has won two bronze medals in 2017 and 2018 at the world championship. He also has won 3 consecutive gold medals at the Pan-American championships in GR 130kg in 2016, 2017 and 2018. In the 2019 Pan-American championships surprisingly he decided to field himself in freestyle category instead of Greco-Roman. And this resulted in that he could only muster bronze medal further giving credence to the fact that Hinds is far better Greco-Roman wrestler than freestyle.
But as the ultimate legend Lopez decided to attempt 4th consecutive Olympic gold medal, the younger Cuban decided to leave his place for his hero. 37-year-old Lopez, is aiming for an unprecedented 4th consecutive Olympic gold medal by any male wrestler at Tokyo 2020. If the great Cuban grappler manages to secure a gold medal again at Tokyo, he will surpass the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler Aleksandr “The Experiment” Karelin of Russia. Lopez has won Olympic gold in Beijing (2008), London (2012) and Rio (2016).
The Tokyo Olympics, however, will be his last. Mijain will be retiring from the sport after the Summer Games in Japan. “After Tokyo, I am retiring. It’s already decided,” the Cuban wrestling had legend said.
The Cuban legend has also won five world championships gold medal, the last one in 2014, Tashkent. Lopez, however, has decided not to participate at the Pan-American Championships. The Pan-Am will be held at Ottawa, Canada from March 6 to 9. On the other hand Pino Hinds will be seen in action at Pan-Am in the freestyle 125kg category.
