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Daniel Illescas Wins Antena 3’s El Desafío After 12 Weeks of Trials

The win marks a step up from online fame to a fuller role on Spanish television.

Overview

  • He took the title in a final the show described as one of its closest, edging fellow finalists Jessica Goicoechea, Patricia Conde and José Yélamo.
  • He set the programme’s static‑apnea best by holding his breath underwater for almost five minutes, a breath‑hold test that demands calm and control.
  • He says he was the only contestant to finish all 12 challenges and credits steady work and mental training for carrying him through the season.
  • He directed his share of the show’s €30,000 charity pot to Fundación Luzón for ALS research, then shared part of it to spark a chain of gifts that also sent funds to fibromyalgia research, Fundación Niemann‑Pick España and UNRWA.
  • He previously appeared on MasterChef Celebrity in 2023 and says the discipline and routine of El Desafío boosted his confidence as he moves deeper into TV work.