Two Matadors Seriously Injured in Consecutive Bullfights at Seville's Maestranza Ring

Apr 24, 2026, 15:18

Introduction

Within a few days, two well-known Spanish bullfighters were seriously injured during separate bullfights at the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza in Seville. The incidents, which happened in late April, have brought attention to the risks of bullfighting and caused a variety of public reactions.

Main Body

The first incident involved José Antonio Morante Camacho, known as Morante de la Puebla and called the 'King of Bullfighters'. On April 19, during a performance in which he had already killed three bulls, a fourth bull, named Clandestino and weighing 512 kilograms, charged after the matador made a mistake. The bull's horn went into the matador's rectum, causing a 10-centimeter wound near the anus. This partly damaged the sphincter muscles and made a hole in the rectal wall. Morante was taken to Viamed Hospital, where he was first placed in intensive care and later moved to a general ward. In a video shared with his followers, he described the injury as the most painful of his career and admitted he was very scared. However, he pointed out that he lost very little blood. He said he had a difficult night with little sleep and would not be able to eat for several days. Two days later, on the Thursday after Morante's injury, matador Roca Rey was attacked by a bull in the same ring. During his fight, the bull hit him in the right thigh, lifted him, threw him several times, and then stepped on him. Assistants, known as cuadrillas, stepped in to distract the animal, which allowed Rey to roll away and be carried to safety. Medical reports described a 35-centimeter wound that went in two directions—one up and one down the leg. The injury caused serious damage to important muscles in the thigh, but no major blood vessels were hurt. Doctors described Rey's condition as 'very serious'. These back-to-back gorings have led to comments from both inside and outside the bullfighting community. Some people highlight the skill and courage needed in the contest, while others criticize the practice. On social media, responses to Morante's injury included remarks such as 'karma' and statements supporting the bull's self-defense. Bullfighting remains legal in Spain, France, Portugal, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Ecuador, but it is banned in several other countries, including the United Kingdom.

Conclusion

The consecutive serious injuries to two leading matadors show the physical dangers that are part of bullfighting. Morante de la Puebla is expected to stay in hospital for at least a week, while Roca Rey's recovery time has not been given. The incidents have started a new debate about the ethics and safety of the tradition.

Vocabulary Learning

banned (v.)
prohibited / officially not allowed禁止；取締
Example:Bullfighting is banned in several countries including the UK.
consecutive (adj.)
successive / happening one after another連續的
Example:Two matadors suffered consecutive injuries within days.
criticize (v.)
condemn / to express disapproval批評；指責
Example:Others criticize the practice of bullfighting.
ethics (n.)
morals / principles of right and wrong道德規範；倫理
Example:The incidents have sparked a debate about the ethics of bullfighting.
highlight (v.)
emphasize / to draw attention to something強調；突出
Example:Some people highlight the skill and courage needed in bullfighting.

Sentence Learning

The incidents, which happened in late April, have brought attention to the risks of bullfighting and caused a variety of public reactions.
This sentence uses a non-defining relative clause ('which happened in late April') to add extra information about the incidents. The clause is set off by commas and provides background without changing the core meaning.這個句子使用了非限定性關係從句（'which happened in late April'）來補充關於事件的額外信息。該從句由逗號分隔，提供背景資訊而不改變核心意思。
Morante was taken to Viamed Hospital, where he was first placed in intensive care and later moved to a general ward.
This sentence uses passive voice ('was taken', 'was placed', 'moved') to focus on the actions performed on Morante rather than who performed them. The relative adverb 'where' introduces a clause describing the hospital.這個句子使用被動語態（'was taken', 'was placed', 'moved'）來強調對Morante採取的行動，而非誰執行了這些行動。關係副詞'where'引導從句描述醫院的情況。
Assistants, known as cuadrillas, stepped in to distract the animal, which allowed Rey to roll away and be carried to safety.
This sentence contains a non-defining relative clause ('which allowed...') that describes the result of the assistants' action. It also uses passive voice ('be carried') to emphasize the action on Rey.這個句子包含一個非限定性關係從句（'which allowed...'），描述助手行動的結果。同時使用被動語態（'be carried'）來強調對Rey的行動。
Bullfighting remains legal in Spain, France, Portugal, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Ecuador, but it is banned in several other countries, including the United Kingdom.
This sentence uses the linking word 'but' to show contrast between where bullfighting is legal and where it is banned. The passive voice ('is banned') is used to state the legal status formally.這個句子使用連接詞'but'來對比鬥牛合法和禁止的地區。被動語態（'is banned'）用於正式陳述法律狀態。
Some people highlight the skill and courage needed in the contest, while others criticize the practice.
This sentence uses the linking word 'while' to contrast two opposing viewpoints. It is a concise way to present different opinions in a balanced manner.這個句子使用連接詞'while'來對比兩種對立的觀點。這是一種簡潔的方式，以平衡的方式呈現不同的意見。