Cuban five-time Olympic champion Mijaín López stated on the Brazilian channel Sportv's program Hello LA that sports in Cuba need to open up to the world to recover talent and modernize its competitive structure.

Away from the pressure of combat and the tension of judges, the 43-year-old López reviewed a life of glory, reflected on his retirement after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and the legacy he leaves to new generations.

With five consecutive Olympic gold medals to his name—"a feat unprecedented in Greco-Roman wrestling and in world sport"—the Caribbean giant acknowledged that his time on the mat came to an end in Paris 2024, the final stop of a journey that began in Beijing in 2008.

Now, with a serene voice, he spoke of what comes next: the need for Cuba to open up to the world, for athletes to have more opportunities to grow, and for the country to stop losing talent to migration in search of broader horizons.

Recorded at the COB Expo, an annual fair of the Brazilian Olympic Committee in Sao Paulo with a public audience, he explained that the island's athletes require greater opportunities for international exchange and competition, and a more dynamic environment to remain among the elite.

He recalled that his extensive career of more than three decades was marked by extreme discipline, daily training, and the conviction that "sacrifice is the foundation of success."

The wrestler emphasized that his farewell does not mean distancing himself from sports, but rather opening a new cycle in which he can contribute as a mentor and role model for future generations. He currently serves as an international ambassador for the discipline.

"What is important now is for the country to take advantage of the accumulated experience," he reasoned.

The program also highlighted the symbolic dimension of López's career: national representation, the pride of carrying the Cuban flag, and the emotional responsibility of bearing the expectations of an entire nation.

In this regard, the champion reiterated that his legacy is not measured only in medals, but in the inspiration he can provide to those beginning their journey in sports.

The conversation turned intimate when the role of his coach, Raúl Trujillo, was discussed. Trujillo sought to explain the invisible secret behind López's strength.

And he did not speak of routines, training plans, or meticulous diets. He spoke of a woman. The legend's mother: Leonor Núñez.

A woman who, in Trujillo's words, "forged with tenacity and discipline the character of a son destined for history."

"From her comes the strength you don't see in the stands, the one that supports you when all seems lost," the technician affirmed.

With a mix of reflection and forward-looking ideas, the special edition of Hello LA presented Mijaín López in his role as a historic athlete, convinced of his commitment to "continue contributing from any new role to Cuban sports."