Raul Martin takes on top sumos


Raul Martin takes on top sumos
By Charles Shaft
Associated Press
(Shanghai, China)

Raul Martin a former olympic gymnast takes on Maegashira sumo wrestler Aminishiki at a public demonstration of Japanese Sumo Wednesday, June 9, 2004 in Shanghai, China. Raul first came to prominence in the 2000 olympics when he earned a bronze medal competing with the Chinese. Fame and glory however became too much for the young star to handle and he quickly turned to pain killers and zima for relief. "One day i woke up and rolled over to see Micheal Jackson sleeping next to me, so the same day i checked into rehab and have been clean ever since," stated Martin. The former Olympian decided afterwards to get his life back on track but having been banned for life from professional gymnastics, he lacked direction. One day he says he suddenly realised his true dream to compete as a sumo wrestler. Thus he began a rigorous regimen of eating twice his weight in ding dongs and pringles on a daily basis. "It was a lot more work then i thought but as you can see all my efforts have payed off. I plan on using my superior physique and agility to become the undisputed sumo champion of the world." (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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