Ssireum World Champion Afonso Races Home for Rally

This is a story you don't hear every day. Some athletes push boundaries, trying things no one has before. In Canarian wrestling, there are many famous names, but few are as versatile as Alejandro Afonso, who has been making headlines recently. He just became the Ssireum world champion for foreigners in South Korea, and he's also a rally driver. Without missing a beat, this weekend he'll be behind the wheel of his Skoda R5 Evo, competing in the VI Hoyo de Mazo Hill Climb.

Just hours ago, Alejandro landed back in La Palma after a journey of over twenty hours, including layovers, from South Korea, the home of Ssireum. With hardly any time to unpack, he's already getting ready to take on one of the most famous mountain races on the beautiful island.

Still battling jet lag, Alejandro admits he hasn't quite grasped the full importance of his win. And it's a big one. The La Palma native finally claimed a trophy he'd been chasing for years. This was his fifth trip to Korea for the competition. He'd come close before, even losing a tough final to a Mongolian opponent two years ago. Ssireum, a sport similar to Canarian wrestling but with its own rules, a special sand called 'satba,' and a deep, almost sacred meaning in Korea, had been a challenge for him. But Alejandro, who wrestles for Club Bediesta (San Andrés y Sauces), was determined to achieve his dream. He said, "One of my goals in the sport was to win the coveted bull" – the gold trophy given to the champion, which is an ancient symbol tied to Korea's farming history.

In the final, he faced a fellow Canarian, Alberto Zamora. It was a unique match between two countrymen in Korea, both an impressive achievement and a personal test. Alejandro explained that in the first round, he studied his opponent, aiming "to tire him out with the weight difference." Since Alejandro weighed less, he could use time to his advantage. "If time ran out, I would win," he explained. The second round, he said, was "more of the same," but this time he managed to "hook him a bit forward," securing the most significant title of his international career.

However, a big part of his victory was secured much earlier, in the match that got him into the final. "Everyone knows who Eusebio is... one of the best in Canarian wrestling today," Alejandro said. He defeated Eusebio Ledesma in a match that pushed him to his absolute limit. He described it as "all out," with both testing every move. Alejandro knew the only way to win was to "pull him upwards," a risky move needing strength, quick reflexes, and perfect timing. After a tense draw, Afonso finally took Ledesma down. "It was very emotional," the La Palma native admitted.

But his story doesn't end there. There's a twist: Afonso doesn't just face powerful opponents in a wrestling ring. He also puts on a racing suit and helmet, then starts a car with over 280 horsepower. The Ssireum world champion from La Palma is also an active rally driver.

He calls rallying "a hobby," something he does "when he has time," without any pressure or obligations. "If a hill climb fits my schedule on a weekend and I don't have wrestling, I go. If not, that's fine," he explains. For him, competing in the Canary Islands feels "like going to the beach," because he makes it clear that "Canarian wrestling is my number one sport."

However, even though he doesn't take rallying too seriously, his connection to cars isn't new. He's been going to rallies with his father since he was a child. For him, motorsport was about culture, family, and tradition. He has a special fondness for the first race car they bought. He remembers, "It was just another excuse to do something as a family." That Citroen Saxo started as a simple pastime but grew into a family effort that has since seen them own four different racing vehicles.

He made his racing debut in 2019, a childhood dream finally coming true. He doesn't feel pressure when he's on a race stage; his approach is different, rooted in family tradition. "Real nerves are when you're in a wrestling ring with 3,000 people," he says. But when he gets into the car, the feeling is different. "It's purely for fun," he insists, which is why he never felt the usual nerves beginners experience on their first stage. "I raced for the first time, and people asked me how it went, if I was nervous. And honestly, no, zero nerves. In the end, I know I have no responsibility, no one is demanding anything from me," explains the El Muro Racing driver.

Far from being limited to just two sports, Alejandro sees himself as an all-around athlete. He plays football, rides dirt bikes in enduro, and is up for anything active. "I like to live life," he says. "It's not that I'm the best, but I can hold my own," he concludes with a laugh.