The Cuban five-time Olympic champion, Mijaín López, is currently in Beijing, sharing his expertise with young Chinese athletes. This coaching mission, lasting approximately two months, is portrayed by the Cuban regime and the Chinese government as a testament to the partnership between the two nations.
This past Saturday, the Chinese ambassador to Cuba, Hua Xin, shared a photo on his social media account, X, depicting López with three young Chinese wrestlers in a training facility. Accompanying the image was the message: "China and Cuba, united in the fight. The five-time Olympic champion Mijaín López trains young athletes in China."
López, alongside his coach Raúl Trujillo, arrived in China in mid-March with the stated goal of preparing the Chinese national team for the Asian Championship, scheduled from April 6 to 12 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
On March 14, both visited the Cuban Embassy in China, where López highlighted not only the sports collaboration but also the political ties between the two countries: "The relationships that have existed between Cuba and China, not just in sports, but also politically, are something to recognize."
Institutional Goals and Political Ties
Trujillo emphasized the institutional purpose of their mission, stating: "I will always work for Cuba as I am still the vice president of the Cuban Wrestling Federation and the technical head of the federation. This mission is about development, but always in favor of Cuba, establishing agreements, finding training bases, and gathering information."
López's presence in China is consistent with a longstanding pattern of utilizing the wrestler as an ambassador of the regime abroad.
Previous Engagements and Recognitions
In January 2026, he was prominently featured at FITUR 2026 in Madrid as a central figure in Cuba's tourism strategy, which drew criticism from exiles and activists for using sports heroes as a propaganda tool to mask the country's crises.
In December 2024, he was personally awarded the title of Hero of the Republic of Cuba by Raúl Castro—the highest civilian honor—at a ceremony attended by Miguel Díaz-Canel.
As a deputy of the National Assembly of People's Power, López has dedicated his medals to Fidel Castro and the Revolution throughout his career. After securing his fourth gold medal in Tokyo, he expressed: "I want to dedicate this to our undefeated commander in chief, who was the first to bring sports to Cuba."
Nevertheless, in a September 2025 interview with AFP from São Paulo, the wrestler acknowledged the precarious state of Cuban sports, warning that "we have lost many talents and training centers have deteriorated."
Cuba's Sports Diplomacy and Mijaín López
What is Mijaín López's current role in China?
Mijaín López is currently training young Chinese athletes in Beijing as part of a two-month advisory mission.
Why was Mijaín López featured at FITUR 2026 in Madrid?
He was showcased as a central figure in Cuba's tourism strategy, which led to criticism for using sports figures to promote the regime's image internationally.
How has López contributed to Cuba's political image abroad?
Besides his athletic achievements, López has been used as an ambassador for the Cuban regime, promoting political ties and engaging in diplomatic missions.