French bullfighter Clemente injured at the 25th corrida of Feria de San Isidro. At the 25th evening of the Feria de San Isidro in Madrid, French bullfighter Clemente was injured. The corrida was uneventful, and the bulls from Juan Pedro Domecq failed to meet the audience's expectations.
On June 5, the 25th evening of the Feria de San Isidro took place at Las Ventas arena in Madrid, remembered less for the contest itself and more for the lack of emotion and the injury of one of the participants. French matador Clemente was seriously injured by the fifth bull of the evening but, according to preliminary reports, got away with a fractured humerus. Doctors quickly provided him with medical assistance, and there is no further threat to his life.
That evening, Uceda Leal, Clemente, and Pablo Aguado performed in the arena. The bulls from Juan Pedro Domecq, as well as a substitute from Montalvo, failed to show the class and strength that the audience had hoped for. The very first bull turned out to be challenging for Uceda Leal: the animal refused to follow the cape, and during the work with the muleta was stubborn, leaving no opportunity for an elegant series. The torero was forced to quickly end his performance.
The second bull, assigned to Clemente, was met with protests from the crowd and, after several falls, was replaced by a substitute from Montalvo. Despite the Frenchman's attempts to liven up the performance, he was unable to string together a striking series—the bull lacked the necessary energy, leaving the audience indifferent.
Pablo Aguado started his performance with a beautiful veronica, but his bull was also little interested in the contest. Attempts to form a series were hindered by the animal's quick recovery after each maneuver. The spectators greeted the performance with whistles and discontent.
The fourth bull again did not allow Uceda Leal to show his skills: despite a good start, the animal did not demonstrate the necessary spirit, and the torero ended his performance without any notable success. The fifth bull became the most dramatic moment of the evening: Clemente began with a determined entrance but was picked up and lifted several meters during the faena. After that, Uceda Leal took responsibility for finishing off the bull.
At the end of the evening, Pablo Aguado once again could not find an approach to the bull, despite attempts to work from both sides. The audience responded with protests, and the torero quickly ended his performance.
According to RUSSPAIN, such incidents at Madrid bullfights are rare, but injuries to toreros always spark discussion within the professional community. In this context, it is worth noting that interest in traditional Spanish festivals and sports events in the capital remains high, as does interest in other major events, for example, football appointments, which were recently discussed in a piece on the possible role of Fernando Hierro in the Real Madrid academy — more about staffing changes in Madrid sports.
The Feria de San Isidro is the largest annual bullfighting festival in Spain, bringing together thousands of spectators and the best toreros from the country and across Europe. Las Ventas arena is considered one of the most prestigious in the world. Despite criticism and debates surrounding bullfighting, interest in these events in Madrid remains consistently high, and tickets for key nights sell out in advance.
