The praise was also directed at Chinese coach Lang Ping, but it had a special significance in the case of Cuba, as it was for the coach who celebrated his pupil Mijain Lopez’s fifth Olympic gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Paris Olympic Games.

“It’s a great honor to receive this extraordinary distinction from the IOC. I would like to do so by thanking the IOC, and all the athletes I have coached over my more than 50-year career,” said Trujillo Diaz about the award granted in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Cuban Greco-Roman wrestling exopresed acknowledgement of other coaches who worked hard behind the scenes for these achievements, “they have all been my motivation and example, and especially those who, like no one else, they have supported me over these years, my family.”

Mijain Lopez, probably the most renowned awardee, was one of those chosen to join the global group of athletes who bid farewell to the Paris 2024 event, thanks to becoming the first and only athlete in history, in any discipline, to win the Olympic top prize five times consecutively.

In addition, Trujillo Diaz coached other Cuban wrestling figures, such as Ismael Borrero, Olympic champion in the 59 kg category in Rio de Janeiro 2016, and Luis Orta, gold medalist in the 60 kg category in Tokyo 2020.

Kirsty Coventry, who was an Olympic swimming champion and is the first woman and African (from Zimbabwe) to preside over the IOC, commented that it is a very special moment to celebrate the commitment and dedication of these two incredible coaches.

jdt/rc/ft