PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Abdelrahman Shalan’s run up to the top of the “Rocky” steps on Thursday, in tribute to his lifelong inspiration, didn’t look much like a typical tourist’s Instagram moment.
For one thing, he was barefoot.
“My real name is Abdelrahman — and my ring name is Osunaarashi, which means ‘the great sand storm,’” he said at the top of the iconic front steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Ōsunaarashi Kintarō is his identity as a sumo wrestler.
“When it comes to sumo, it’s my passion in life.”
Shalan is now retired, but he still competes in martial arts tournaments and amateur sumo tournaments — like the World Championship Sumo Grand Prix at the Hard Rock Hotel in Atlantic City on June 15, which he is training for — hence, his stunt at the museum.
He says running the “Rocky” steps is something he’s dreamed of for a while.
“It’s one of my favorite childhood movies.”
And now, after conquering the steps, the 6-foot-2, 345-pound Shalan says he feels very confident about the upcoming bout.
“It’s been a long time since I took on stairs like this, but it feels good of course.”
Shalan lives in New Jersey, and he achieved an impressive career in Japan after starting at the lowest level in sumo — but his journey as a sumo wrestler has taken him truly worldwide.
“I left Egypt to go to Japan to become the first professional wrestler from Africa and the Middle East,” he said.
He says following the footsteps of his fictional Philadelphia hero is more than a metaphor.
“It reminded me of how I started my journey in Japan, how I did it from the very first rank — which nobody see me — to being on the top, being the crowd favorite in Japan for five years in a row,” he said.
“It reminds me of how nothing good will come easy to you.”