2012 Photo Contest, Sports, 3rd prize

Lucha libre at La Loba

Photographer

Tomasz Gudzowaty

for <em>National Geographic Polska</em>

15 June, 2011

Luchadores at La Loba arena, Mexico City.

About the photographer

Tomasz Gudzowaty

Tomasz Gudzowaty was born in 1971 and studied law at the University of Warsaw. He began his photographic career with nature photography, later turning to social documentary. For ...

Background story

Mexico City, Mexico

Luchadores at La Loba arena, Mexico City. Lucha libre, the Mexican version of free wrestling, is probably rivaled only by soccer in popularity among Mexican people. At least a dozen big arenas host lucha libre in Mexico City, most having shows twice a week. They range from the 16,000-seater Arena Mexico to smaller neighborhood venues. Disguising one’s identity is part of the culture of lucha libre—wrestlers are often masked, have nicknames, and sometimes even cross-dress. Emphasis is placed on the spectacle of skillful moves, rather than on force.

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