Bolivia’s Wrestlers — Photo Gallery — National Geographic Magazine

Current Issue September 2008
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Bolivia's Wrestlers

In the wrestling rings of Bolivia, skirts fly as cholitas fight back!

/2008/09/wrestlers/img/01-city-highway-714.jpg /2008/09/wrestlers/img/bolivian-wrestlers-60-01.jpg Photograph by Ivan Kashinsky http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1185893 /2008/09/wrestlers/img/02-ticket-line-714.jpg /2008/09/wrestlers/img/bolivian-wrestlers-60-02.jpg Photograph by Ivan Kashinsky /2008/09/wrestlers/img/03-fans-wrestler-714.jpg /2008/09/wrestlers/img/bolivian-wrestlers-60-03.jpg Photograph by Ivan Kashinsky /2008/09/wrestlers/img/04-stadium-ring-714.jpg /2008/09/wrestlers/img/bolivian-wrestlers-60-04.jpg Photograph by Ivan Kashinsky lucha libre program—$1.50 for locals, and a few dollars more for curious foreigners (who get perks like front-row seats and a guide)—boomed after organizer Juan Mamani added women wrestlers to the lineup in 2001.]]> /2008/09/wrestlers/img/05-ring-match-714.jpg /2008/09/wrestlers/img/bolivian-wrestlers-60-05.jpg Photograph by Ivan Kashinsky ruda, or villain, prepares to charge "Alicia Flores," a tÃ©cnica, or heroine.]]> /2008/09/wrestlers/img/06-ring-jump-714.jpg /2008/09/wrestlers/img/bolivian-wrestlers-60-06.jpg Photograph by Ivan Kashinsky /2008/09/wrestlers/img/07-wrestlers-ring-714.jpg /2008/09/wrestlers/img/bolivian-wrestlers-60-07.jpg Photograph by Ivan Kashinsky /2008/09/wrestlers/img/08-costume-ring-714.jpg /2008/09/wrestlers/img/bolivian-wrestlers-60-08.jpg Photograph by Ivan Kashinsky pollera skirt, "Amorous Yolanda" humbles burly "Craquen." Female fans relish victories over male wrestlers by tough cholitas—scripted though they are. "I am a loving person outside the ring," Yolanda says. "But once in the ring, Amorous Yolanda becomes 'Hateful Yolanda.'"]]> /2008/09/wrestlers/img/09-wrestler-fall-714.jpg /2008/09/wrestlers/img/bolivian-wrestlers-60-09.jpg Photograph by Ivan Kashinsky /2008/09/wrestlers/img/10-fans-cheering-714.jpg /2008/09/wrestlers/img/bolivian-wrestlers-60-10.jpg Photograph by Ivan Kashinsky /2008/09/wrestlers/img/11-wrestler-jumping-714.jpg /2008/09/wrestlers/img/bolivian-wrestlers-60-11.jpg Photograph by Ivan Kashinsky /2008/09/wrestlers/img/12-mask-costume-714.jpg /2008/09/wrestlers/img/bolivian-wrestlers-60-12.jpg Photograph by Ivan Kashinsky /2008/09/wrestlers/img/13-dressing-room-714.jpg /2008/09/wrestlers/img/bolivian-wrestlers-60-13.jpg Photograph by Ivan Kashinsky /2008/09/wrestlers/img/14-bedroom-laundry-714.jpg /2008/09/wrestlers/img/bolivian-wrestlers-60-14.jpg Photograph by Ivan Kashinsky /2008/09/wrestlers/img/15-wrestler-portraits-714.jpg /2008/09/wrestlers/img/bolivian-wrestlers-60-15.jpg Photograph by Ivan Kashinsky /2008/09/wrestlers/img/16-ring-practice-714.jpg /2008/09/wrestlers/img/bolivian-wrestlers-60-16.jpg Photograph by Ivan Kashinsky /2008/09/wrestlers/img/17-woman-city-714.jpg /2008/09/wrestlers/img/bolivian-wrestlers-60-17.jpg Photograph by Ivan Kashinsky