Article by David Marinescu – Published on Thursday, 13 November 2025, 00:11 / Updated on Thursday, 13 November 2025 00:11
The show Asia Express – Hero's Path announced its winners tonight! Dan Alexa (45 years old) and Gabriel Tamaș (41 years old), the two former internationals, awarded their grand prize of 35,000 euros.
After thousands of kilometers traveled, dozens of missions and meetings with completely different cultures, Dan Alexa and Gabriel Tamaș fought in the final for the grand prize of the toughest reality show in Romania. The two wore the equipment of the national football team.
Season 9 ended, and the two former footballers defeated the actors Alex Ion and Ștefan Floroaica in the final.
How much money did Dan Alexa and Gabi Tamaș earn at Asia Express
Dan Alexa and Gabriel Tamaș awarded their grand prize of 35,000 euros, but in addition to this amount, almost 20,000 euros will enter their accounts, each. For the time spent in the show, the amount received at the signing, but also the winnings accumulated during the contest broadcast by Antena 1.
“It was an intense season, full of challenges and emotions. A season of cultural contrasts, discoveries and unexpected lessons. From the smiling people of the Philippines, to the surprising Vietnam, to the strict rules of Korea, the teams experienced a journey that tested not only their physical strength, but also their inner strength. An adventure that left its mark on each competitor and that redefined the notion of courage”, the representatives of the show said.
The grand final took place in Seoul, where the two teams and the viewers could see the emblematic places of an imposing and atypical city. “A city of contrasts, difficult to master”, as specified by the organizers of the competition show.
Dan Alexa: “I saw people who had nothing to eat, but they borrowed money to give it to us”
The current coach of Poli Timișoara, Dan Alexa, said that Asia Express “was a great life experience! And if we wanted to pay for this experience, we wouldn't live it”.
“Asia Express is about real life and how you have to deal with very difficult conditions. Where you depend on the kindness of people. I saw people who had nothing to eat, but borrowed from their neighbors to give it to us…”, explained the former defender.
“I had one euro a day, I didn't have accommodation and I didn't have anything to eat… A different and different life. It was very difficult mentally! These are very difficult situations. It's absolutely the experience of a lifetime for me and I don't think I'll ever have an experience like this again“, he also pointed out.
Gabriel Tamaș: “The hardest and most difficult tests are hitchhiking and finding accommodation”
Asked what were the most difficult things in the competition, the former defender replied: “There were tough tests, plus food and lodging, hitchhiking. The hardest tough tests are hitchhiking and finding lodging.”
“It's 100 percent totally different from what you see on TV. I've never watched an episode before… Now that I think about what I've been through, I congratulate myself. We went with the idea of having fun and feeling good. That's what I did! Besides, we didn't make fun of ourselves“, Gabriel Tamaș explained for GSP.RO.
Who participated in Asia Express
- Mara Bănică and Serghei Mizil
- Raluca Bădulescu and her ex-husband, Florin
- Anda Adam and her husband Joseph
- Catinca Roman and her daughter, Calina
- Stefan Floroaica and Alexandru Ion
- supermodel Alina Pușcau and her friend, Cristina
- former footballers Gabriel Tamaș and Dan Alexa
- the dancer Emil Rengle and his lover, Alejandro
- Karmen and her friend, hair stylist Olga Barcar
