Spanish Matador Back in the Ring

Spanish matador Jose Tomas is seen fighting a bull in this Nov. 30, 2001 file photo taken in Quito, Ecuador. The Spanish bullfighter who mesmerized aficionados with an icy, death-defying style, only to vanish from the ring at the peak of his career without saying why, is dusting off his cape and sword for a closely watched comeback. "Living without bullfighting is not living," matador Jose Tomas says of his big upcoming bout on Sunday June 17, 2007 in Barcelona. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa) (Dolores Ochoa - AP)

BARCELONA, Spain -- A daring young matador made a triumphant return five years after quitting at the peak of his career, enduring a terrifying near-goring Sunday to win standing ovations, a rain of flowers and three trophies _ ears from bulls he had just slain.

Rhythmic cheers of 'Ole!' rang out with virtually every charge that matador Jose Tomas provoked with his flowing red cape as he took on two bulls, each weighing more than a half-ton. Aficionados dubbed it the bullfight of the year.

Camera flashes dotted the sellout crowd of 20,000, the bull ring's first in 22 years, as aficionados captured Tomas performing in his glittering turquoise-and-gold suit in a city with strong anti-bullfight sentiment.

At one point in the first bout, the bull threw Tomas to the ground and held him there with its snout. The bullfighter covered his face with his arms and rolled away, emerging unscathed from the 10-second episode. The crowd roared with adulation when Tomas rose to his feet.

The crowd waved white handkerchiefs and looked to the judge, calling for a trophy. Both times, Tomas got one _ one severed ear from the first bull and both from the second.

He held the ears up and walked around the ring, thanking the crowd. People tossed bouquets of carnations, hats and even clothes into the ring.

When it was all over, Tomas received yet another honor _ the profession's highest _ by being carried out the ring on the shoulders of jubilant fans. Another bullfighter on the bill, Cayetano Rivera, earned the same treat.

Carlos Ruiz-Villasuso, bullfighting critic for Spanish Television, said Tomas was a bit rusty, but had done "exceptional things based fundamentally on bravery."

He said Tomas' second bull was a bit sluggish, but the bullfighter still managed to put on a good show.

"Few bullfighters are capable of adding what the bull is missing. Very few," he said.

Tomas left the ring in 2002, at the peak of his career, without saying why. He told the newspaper El Pais last month in a rare interview that he is coming back because "living without bullfighting is not living."

Scalpers sold tickets to Barcelona's 19,000-seat Monumental bullring for as much as a reported $5,300.