José Maria Larocca

José Maria Larocca Jr. (born 1 January 1969) is an Argentinian equestrian. His discipline is show jumping, usually individually. Larocca currently ranks two hundred and seventy-sixth on the FEI Rolex Ranking List.[1]

José Larocca
A man riding a white horse at a canter after the horse has crossed a hurdle
Larocca on Tortola in 2012
Personal information
Full nameJosé Maria Larocca Jr.
Nationality Argentina
DisciplineShow jumping
Born (1969-01-01) 1 January 1969
Wettingen, Switzerland
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Horse(s)Casha vd Kornelishoeve, Con Air 7, Cornet Du Lys, Hardrock Z, Last Chance 9, Leasing, Mobily Ashkur Allah Obelix, Okidoki, Royal Power, Son of Marco, Svante, Tortola, Ukkepuk Hof Den Dries
Medal record
Equestrian
Representing  Argentina
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place2015 TorontoTeam jumping
Silver medal – second place 2019 Lima Individual jumping
Jose Maria (jr.) Larocca with Hilary van T Paradijs Wiesbaden 2015 CSIYH*

Larocca was a relatively late starter to competitive equestrianism, beginning his show-jumping career at age thirty-four.[2] Larocca had ridden horses between the ages of three and twenty but left Argentina for Europe to focus on other forms of work until his love of horses returned him to the sport.[2] His first major competition was in 2008, the Lyon Grand Prix, and when he completed the course with no faults, he was inspired to continue.[2] Larocca has appeared twice in the FEI World Equestrian Games and twice in the Summer Olympic Games representing Argentina.

Larocca received media attention when he purchased the horse Okidoki for unspecified millions with the intent of riding him in the 2012 Summer Olympics.[3] Okidoki suffered a hamstring injury during an event in Cannes in 2010, which initially appeared to be treated successfully, but developed septic shock from surgical complications.[4]

Biography

Larocca was born in Wettingen, Switzerland, on 1 January 1969. He began riding at the age of three and rode in Argentina until the age of twenty.[2] At that age, he moved back to Europe to concentrate on other forms of work.[2]

Larocca began riding again in 2003 at the age of thirty-four after being unable to forget his love of horses.[2] In 2008, Larocca completed the Lyon Grand Prix with no jumping faults, making him believe he could compete at the highest level of equestrianism.[2] In 2009, Larocca came in third at the Zurich Grand Prix, sixth at the Valencia Grand Prix, and sixth at the Patrignano Grand Prix.[2] In 2011, Larocca came in fourth at the Frankfurt Grand Prix, and in 2012 he came in sixth at the Valkenswaard Grand Prix.[2]

Larocca has competed twice in the FEI World Equestrian Games. He first competed in the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games for both individual and team on his horse Svante; in individual, he came in seventy-third, and he was part of the seventeenth-ranking team.[5] He then competed in the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games for both individual and team on his horse Con Air 7; in individual he came in forty-first, and he was part of the twenty-seventh-ranking team.[5] Every time he was competing for Argentina.[5]

On two occasions, Larocca has competed in individual jumping at the Summer Olympic Games. First, in 2008, Larocca came in fifty-eighth, not passing the second qualifier.[6] Larocca tried again in 2012 and came in thirty-eighth, not passing the third qualifier.[7] Both times, Larocca represented Argentina and rode on the horse Royal Power.

Personal life

Larocca has said that his greatest inspiration is his optimistic father, and Larocca's personal motto is "Always believe in yourself."[2]

Horses
NameCurrent ageGenderColorSireDamDamsireBreedOther ownersReferences
Casha van de Kornelishoeve11 yearsMareBayToulonVienna van de KornelishoeveCashBelgian WarmbloodAlain Jufer, Jeroen Dubbeldam, Vincent Deller, Sebastien Pellon-Maison[8][9]
Con Air 716 yearsStallionBayContenderFair Lady IXCarolusHolsteiner horseJoerg Muenzer[10][11]
Cornet Du Lys9 yearsStallionGrayCornet ObolenskyChablis Du LysChampion Du LysWestphalian horseJoerg Muenzer, Marco Kutscher, Henrik Von Eckermann[12][13]
Hardrock Z10 yearsStallionBayHeartbreakerCarte Blanche ZCarthagoZangersheideVladimir Tuganov, Rene Tebbel[14][15]
Last Chance 918 yearsGeldingBayLiberio HGolden LadyGrosso ZHanoverian horseMohammed Kahlid Al Attiyah, Khalid Al Emadi, Salmen Al Suwaidi[16][17]
Leasing13 yearsGeldingChestnutLordanosRabanoRaphaelHanoverian horseMarco Kutscher, Gonzalo Añón Suarez, Manual Añon[18][19]
Mobily Ashkur Allah Obelix17 yearsGeldingBayBurggraafJelzerinaNimmerdorDutch WarmbloodPrince Abdullah Bin Metab Al Saud, Bernardo Alves[20][21]
Okidoki14 years (at death)GeldingBayJodokusKentuckyTopasDutch WarmbloodAlbert Zoer[22][23]
Royal Power16 yearsGeldingBayPionierIMKENimmerdorDutch Warmbloodnone[24][25]
Son of Marco21 yearsGeldingBayIrco MarcoTwink's DelightNever SlipSwedish WarmbloodLuciana Diniz[26][27]
Svante17 yearsGeldingBayHand in Glove XXAttraktivLittle BoyYorkshire Sport HorseSerge Varsano[28][29]
Tortola11 yearsGeldingGrayVigo d'ArsouillesBo SZeusBelgian WarmbloodLaura Kraut, Nick Skelton[30][31]
Ukkepuk Hof Den Dries16 yearsGeldingChestnutDarcoRiona Hof Den DriesChin ChinBelgian WarmbloodLara Postillon[32][33]

Larocca purchased the horse Okidoki for unspecified millions with the intention of riding him in the 2012 Olympics.[3] The horse was already known as the mount of Albert Zoer of the Netherlands, who won team gold at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games, the 2007 European Championships, and the 2007 Olympia Grand Prix in London.[34] However, after Okidoki injured a hamstring during an event in Cannes, he developed complications from surgery and died in late July 2010[3] of septic shock in the abdomen despite initially being proclaimed "well" shortly after the hamstring surgery.[4] As a result of the loss of Okidoki, Larocca instead rode Royal Power at the Olympics.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Rolex Ranking n°146". 28 February 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  2. "José Maria Larocca – Profiles Global Champions Tour". Global Champions Tour. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  3. "Sport News: Beruhmtes Springpferd Okidoki gestorben". ZEIT Online (in German). 22 July 2010. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  4. "Top-Pferd Oki Doki ist tot" (in German). ST.GEORG. 21 July 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  5. "Athlete Performance – LAROCCA, José María (Jr)". Fédération Équestre Internationale. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  6. "2008 Beijing Summer Olympics – Individual Jumping 2nd Qualifier". NBC Universal. 17 August 2008. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  7. "Individual Jumping – 3rd Qualifier". London 2012 Olympics. 6 August 2012. Archived from the original on 11 January 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  8. "Casha vd Kornelishoeve – Profile Global Champions Tour". Global Champions Tour. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  9. "Pedigree of Casha van de Kornelishoeve". HorseTelex. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  10. "Con Air 7 – Profiles Global Champions Tour". Global Champions Tour. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  11. "Pedigree of Con Air". HorseTelex. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  12. "Cornet Du Lys – Profiles Global Champions Tour". Global Champions Tour. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  13. "Pedigree of Cornet Du Lys". HorseTelex. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  14. "Hardrock Z – Profiles Global Champions Tour". Global Champions Tour. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  15. "Pedigree of Hardrock Z". HorseTelex. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  16. "Last Chance 9 – Profiles Global Champions Tour". Global Champions Tour. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  17. "Pedigree of Last Chance". HorseTelex. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  18. "Leasing – Profiles Global Champions Tour". Global Champions Tour. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  19. "Pedigree of Leasing". HorseTelex. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  20. "Mobily Ashkur Allah Obelix – Profiles Global Champions Tour". Global Champions Tour. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  21. "Pedigree of Obelix". HorseTelex. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  22. "Okidoki – Profiles Global Champions Tour". Global Champions Tour. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  23. "Pedigree of Okidoki". HorseTelex. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  24. "Royal Power – Profiles Global Champions Tour". Global Champions Tour. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  25. "Pedigree of Prieto H". HorseTelex. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  26. "Son of Marco – Profiles Global Champions Tour". Global Champions Tour. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  27. "Pedigree of Son of Marco". HorseTelex. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  28. "Svante – Profiles Global Champions Tour". Global Champions Tour. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  29. "Pedigree of Svante". HorseTelex. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  30. "Tortola – Profiles Global Champions Tour". Global Champions Tour. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  31. "Pedigree of Chappo van den Bisschop". HorseTelex. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  32. "Ukkepuk Hof Den Dries – Profiles Global Champions Tour". Global Champions Tour. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  33. "Pedigree of Ukkepuk Hof Den Dries". HorseTelex. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  34. "Death of Top Jumping Horse Oki Doki". Fédération Equestre Internationale. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
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