logo
At Pamplona's San Fermín festival, a tiny minority of women run with bulls

At Pamplona's San Fermín festival, a tiny minority of women run with bulls

Independent13-07-2025
Dressed in the traditional bull runner's garb of a white shirt and red neck-scarf, Yomara Martínez, 30, sprinted in the death-defying morning run or 'encierros' taking place this week in the northern Spanish city of Pamplona.
Yet despite being in a crowd of thousands, Martínez was among only a handful of women daredevils running with the stampeding bulls at the San Fermín Festival.
'At the end of the day, the bull doesn't know about sexes, age or body shape,' Martinez said. 'It doesn't matter if you are woman.'
Every year, thousands of people line the medieval streets of Pamplona to witness the centuries-old tradition of running with bulls. Many watch from balconies and wooden barricades along the course. Millions more follow the spectacle on television.
Women bull runners are rare, though Martínez and other women taking part in the adrenaline-fueled tradition as more than mere spectators say it's growing in popularity.
'There are times I feel small. And ask myself 'what am I doing here?' Because, although you may not want to, you do feel slightly inferior because of your physique,' said 32-year-old Sara Puñal, an administrator who took part in Sunday's run.
'But in the moment, you are all equal,' Puñal said of the run.
The bulls pound along the twisting cobblestone streets after being led by six steers. Up to 4,000 runners take part in each bull run, which takes place over 846 meters (2,775 feet) and can last two to four minutes.
The expert Spanish runners try to sprint just in front of the bull's horns for a few seconds while egging the animal on with a rolled newspaper. Gorings are not rare, but many more people are bruised and injured in falls and pileups with each other.
'I think many have a desire to see what it feels like but they don't try because of fear,' said Paula López, 32, a shop assistant who also took part in a run earlier in the week. López said she grew up in the masculine world of bull fighting. She wasn't fazed by how few women take part in the event.
'It's complicated, but it is pretty exciting,' López said.
The event's reputation took a hit years ago following complaints by women about having suffered sexual harassment and abuse from revelers.
In 2016, five men raped an 18-year-old woman during the festival in an infamous case that sparked an outcry across Spain. The men, who had a WhatsApp group named 'La Manada,' or 'The Animal Pack,' were imprisoned for 15 years by the Supreme Court in 2019.
Since then, organizers have said they've stepped up security measures.
Women didn't participate in the bull runs until 1975 due to a decree repealed one year earlier that prohibited women, children and the elderly from being in the streets where the bulls run during the festival.
The spectacle was made internationally famous by Ernest Hemingway's classic 1926 novel 'The Sun Also Rises,' about American bohemians wasting away in Europe.
——
Naishadham reported from Madrid.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Hannah Hampton: England hero's remarkable journey from doctor heartbreak to Euros glory
Hannah Hampton: England hero's remarkable journey from doctor heartbreak to Euros glory

Daily Mirror

time14 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

Hannah Hampton: England hero's remarkable journey from doctor heartbreak to Euros glory

Hannah Hampton was England's hero in the Euro 2025 final saving two penalties in the shootout but she was told in her youth that she would be unable to pursue a career in football Hannah Hampton saved the day for England against Spain in the Euros final - and her journey to the top has been anything but straightforward. ‌ Hampton kept out two penalties as the Lionesses defended their European crown, having made big stops from Esther Gonzalez and Claudia Pina in regular time. The Chelsea stopper justified Sarina Wiegman 's decision to make her England's number one keeper ahead of Mary Earps, even if some didn't agree with the call at the time. ‌ Those were big shoes to fill, but it was no problem at all for Hampton. ‌ Even longer ago, though, a medical condition might have stopped Hampton's football career before it even started. She had been diagnosed with strabismus, an eye condition which affects depth perception, but didn't let her stop that chasing her dream. "I was told from a young age that I couldn't play football, that it wouldn't be a profession I could pursue. But here I am,' Hampton told the BBC earlier this summer. Her road to the top hasn't been an easy one in more than one way, but the Euro 2025 run is testament to the 24-year-old's resilience. She saved two penalties in the shoot-out against Sweden in the quarter-final, including a sensational stop to turn Sofia Jakobsson's effort onto the post. ‌ And then, in the final, she kept out efforts from Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati before Chloe Kelly put away the winning spot-kick. For some, though, Hampton's best and most crucial moment came even earlier in the tournament. ‌ In a must-win group game against the Netherlands, her inch-perfect pass out to Alessia Russo helped start the move from which Lauren James opened the scoring in a 4-0 England win. Without that, the Lionesses might have found themselves going home long before Hampton produced those heroics in the knockout rounds. "Every player has their one story and journey and hers has been incredible,' England boss Wiegman said. 'Starting the tournament and losing the first game, there was so much riding on every game, we had five finals. 'She had to step up and I think she has been amazing. It's a little bit like a fairytale to stop those two penalties in the final." ‌ Hampton stressed the run to glory was a team effort, saying after the final: 'We never say die, we keep going and we did that today.' That team effort wouldn't have been possible without two things, though - Wiegman giving the young keeper her backing, and Hampton delivering. ‌ England's manager made a number of big decisions in the lead-up to the tournament and continued along that path in Switzerland. Her decision to call up teenage forward Michelle Agyemang paid off handsomely, with the youngster scoring crucial goals against Sweden and Italy, while there were some bold calls in defence throughout the tournament itself. England's manager had a lot to lose by backing Hampton over Euro 2022 winner Earps, but her bravery in making the call is part of why she's now celebrating yet another sensational triumph. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive y our daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Lionesses Bring It Home Again - Souvenir Edition Sarina Wiegman's legends have made history and brought football home once more after defending their title and winning Euro 2025 in Switzerland. We have produced this special souvenir edition of the Women's Football News. It is crammed with interviews with the Lionesses, special features, their match-by-match road to glory as well as dozens of amazing images. Click here to buy

Chloe Kelly sent a subtle but powerful message to fans with her pre-game beauty ritual
Chloe Kelly sent a subtle but powerful message to fans with her pre-game beauty ritual

Daily Mirror

time14 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

Chloe Kelly sent a subtle but powerful message to fans with her pre-game beauty ritual

Lionesses star Chloe Kelly's nails weren't just pretty– they sent a powerful message about owning femininity in football Chloe Kelly isn't just a footballing powerhouse, she's a beauty girl too. During last night's nail-biting England vs Spain Euros final, all eyes were understandably on the pitch. But if you zoomed in even slightly, you might have noticed something subtly powerful about the Lioness forward's manicure: a delicate two-tone butter-yellow and pastel pink polish, perfectly neat, slightly glossy and very intentionally chosen, we think. In a world where women in sport are often expected to tuck away their femininity, Chloe's manicure felt like a needed reminder that you can be both– powerful and polished, strong and soft, fierce on the pitch but still into nail art. We know from her past interviews that Chloe loves her nails, and her go-to is BIAB (builder in a bottle). If you haven't heard of it, this salon-favourite manicure is known for being ultra-strong yet still natural-looking. It's widely considered to be the mani choice for those who really don't want to risk chips, especially for those who need to concentrate on slamming footballs into the back of the net. It's not the first time Chloe has used beauty to make a statement, either. At the 2022 Women's Euros final, Chloe scored that winning goal against Germany, all the while sporting a sleek blonde ponytail and a flawless nude manicure that fans instantly clocked. Since then, she's embraced beauty as part of her game-day prep, showing that being competitive and caring about your hair, skin or nails aren't mutually exclusive. Buy the new Lionesses Euro 2025 kit Various Fanatics See the range Product Description It's a great reminder for women in sport. For so long, women have had to dull down anything remotely feminine for fear of not being taken seriously. However, when male athletes groom, it's usually seen as a show of status. Take Cristiano Ronaldo 's impeccably gelled hair or Jack Grealish 's signature Alice band, for example. The two pro players are rarely, if ever, criticised for caring about how they look; rather, it adds to their brand. Their grooming choices tend to be framed as confident or stylish, not vain or distracting. Still, female players like Chloe are often scrutinised for their choices. When they embrace beauty, whether it's a fun manicure or a thought-out hairstyle, it's sometimes raised as a contradiction to their athleticism, or even a signal they're not serious about the sport. The fact that the forward proudly displays her feminine pink and yellow nails on the pitch proves she's refusing to bow in fear of being called an unserious player because of her beauty choices. Chloe's most recent yellow set was done by @lulusnailszurich, who used The Gel Bottle colours to create the look. The exact yellow shade is called ' Queen Bee ', and it's a buttery yellow that has reigned supreme this summer in beauty and style trends. If you're wondering whether you can get Chloe's favourite BIAB-style mani without booking in, you absolutely can. Gel kits have come a long way, and with a decent builder gel, a buffer, and a UV or LED lamp, it's never been easier to DIY a set at home that won't snap off if you so much as look at your car keys funny. Shop DIY gel and BIAB polishes and kits to save on Chloe's go-to manicure Though there's an initial cost to buy a kit, you could save yourself hundreds of pounds on salon manicures, like our head of beauty Zoe did, by learning to do gel and BIAB manis for yourself... Mylee The Full Works Complete Gel Polish Kit Shop it for £129.99 I'd recommend spending on this Mylee The Full Works Complete Gel Polish Kit, because it includes a base coat, a top coat, polish remover, polish prep liquid, cuticle oil and eight gel polish shades. You'd have to buy these individually anyway, so you're getting a great deal by investing in the full kit. Mylee has also just launched Builder Polishes for £14, which can be used to give a home BIAB manicure. 14-Day Manicure Builder Gel At-Home Kit Shop it for £94 A full builder gel kit to give you long-lasting nails like Chloe. You can buy individual shades if you need more, but this kit comes with two (and you can select them). Their hema-free formulas also minimise the risk of skin irritation, making it a safe way to do DIY cured nails. The Gel Bottle's BIAB Start Kit Shop it for £102.75 Long-lasting formulations with no chipping or lifting for up to 4+ weeks. This kit comes with 10 polishes and tools to get you going. The lamp comes separately for £119. *It's worth noting this is a professional product, and while anyone can order it, it's advised you sign up for a course to learn how to use products safely and properly. You can see the brand's course options here.

Watch BMX Racing World Championships on BBC
Watch BMX Racing World Championships on BBC

BBC News

time16 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Watch BMX Racing World Championships on BBC

British riders will be taking to the track at the BMX Racing World Championships in Copenhagen this week and BBC Sport will be showing all the action on Sunday, 3 August when the rainbow jersey winners are crowned. The last time the World Championships were held in Denmark 14 years ago, Frenchman Joris Daudet claimed his first world title during a dominant year in which he won all 11 rounds on the European BMX is the defending champion this year and also the reigning Olympic champion after his victory at Paris competition is different to 14 years ago, with the races now faster, corners on the course higher and the bike designs different. Who are the ones to watch? Women's races:Australian Saya Sakakibara is the Olympic champion and a two-time World Cup champion. She is on track for a third World Cup victory and will be looking to add the World Championship to her titles, but fourth is the highest she has managed to finish in this Claessens will be looking to go one better than last year when she finished second behind American Alise Willoughby. The Swiss rider is number one in this season's rankings and won bronze at the Paris Britain's Beth Shriever is an Olympic gold medallist and heads to Denmark in pursuit of a third world the women's Under-23 race, Great Britain's Emily Hutt is the name to look out for. She has finished second in the last two U23 World Championships and will be looking to claim the title for the first races:France's Joris Daudet is the man to beat. His win last year at Rock Hill in the United States secured his fourth world compatriot Sylvain Andre will be looking to continue a successful year. Andre is top of both the men's elite rankings and World Cup standings. However, he has not won the World Championship title since Cullen is the highest-ranked Briton in this season's competition. He won round four of the World Cup and is sixth in the individual rankings. No British cyclist has been the men's world champion since Liam Phillips in 2013. BMX Racing World Championships - BBC schedule Sunday, 3 August - 10:50-14:00 BST on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store