A gym in Madrid, a punching bag hanging from the ceiling, and four figures in the midst of a training session: this is how Jesús Gallo was captured, the Cuban physical trainer who is part of Ilia Topuria's team and who has become the go-to trainer for some of the biggest stars in sports and entertainment in Spain.
The scene was shared by the singer Omar Montes in an Instagram story this Wednesday, showing Gallo, Topuria, and Pablo Motos in the midst of a session at The Black Panther Gym (TBP Gym), the gym spanning over 1,000 square meters in Madrid, which the UFC champion uses as his headquarters outside of competitions.
Gallo is a Habanero with over twenty years of experience training elite athletes, a degree in Exercise Physiology, and a specialization in Sports Medicine. From Miami, where he founded the Elite Athletes Performance gym, he has worked with UFC fighters like Jorge Masvidal, NBA players, and Major League Baseball players.
His path to Topuria began when the Hispanic-Georgian sought to address weight-cutting issues. "They reached out to work on his conditioning, as he was having trouble with cutting weight and the training was not suited to his style and physique.
Since then, his method —based on extreme personalization, science applied to performance, and discipline— has been key to the physical evolution of the champion. But beyond high performance, Gallo has also been able to connect with very diverse personalities, such as Omar Montes himself and presenter Pablo Motos, bringing training into a more accessible and media-friendly realm.
Their presence in such scenarios not only confirms their significance within the elite circle in Spain, but also brings to the forefront something that is reiterated time and again: Cuban talent that thrives outside the island and manages to make its way to the highest levels.
Filed under: