GLADIATOR NAME Militia
ROAD TO DESTRUCTION At the age of 19, Cuban-born Alexander Castro, 37, took his father's boat to escape to America with three others. After a storm left him floating in the Atlantic for nearly five days, he was rescued by the U.S. Marines — which he joined. The 6'3,'' 235-lb. black belt has performed with Cirque du Soleil for 14 years, most recently a hand-balancing duet in Vegas' Zumanity.
YOU DON'T WANT TO MEET HIM IN... Wall. ''They give contestants a seven-second [head] start, and then you see them just look at you, scared. They're climbing for their life. You can get them and drop them in the water, which is kinda fun.''
EVEN MORE FUN... The new event Earthquake, which involves wrestling on a moving platform. ''I was hanging to the Earthquake, and I overstretched the muscles in my arm. I'm a Gladiator. I injure but I keep working.''
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