tribute
Ten-goal man He was one of the greatest players Argentina has ever produced – and the finest of human beings. Long-time friend Alberto P Heguy pays his respects to Gonzalo Tanoira
T
he polo community was left stunned on Friday 17th December 2004 when Gonzalo Tanoira, president of the Argentine Polo Association (AAP), tragically died in the Mater Dei hospital in Buenos Aires after suffering a heart attack during a routine back operation. Son of Susana Graziosi and Doctor Jorge Tanoira, Gonzalo was married to architect Lusita Miguens and was father to Gonzalo, Javier, Bárbara, Leonor and Santiago. As a player Gonzalo reached the maximum 10 goal rating in 1969 and is regarded as one of the alltime greats of Argentine polo. Yet despite his undisputed talent, he never won the Argentine Open. In May 2005, Gonzalo would have completed his term as President of the AAP, a reign that had at times been controversial, but one that ended with the most exciting Argentine Open in years. Seventeen-time Argentine Open winner Alberto P Heguy, father to three of the Indios Chapaleufu II team that won the 2004 Open, and rival and longtime friend of Gonzalo Tanoira, here pays tribute to the life of the late AAP President. Gonzalo and I knew each other for years and the one underlying feeling between us was the respect that we had for one another and the respect everyone in polo had for him. That is something very difficult to accomplish in this sport. On the field Gonzalo was probably the greatest player
never to win the Argentine Open. And I have to admit that he was better than me, even though I won the tournament 17 times. This was a cultured, intelligent and reasonable man who seemed much more knowledgeable about the world in general than most and who happened to be the second-best player of his generation. I can say with absolute certainty that the only man better on a polo field than Gonzalo Tanoira in our era was Juan Carlos Harriot. Perhaps that was because Gonzalo did not risk everything on the field, like some of us did. He lacked that crazy spark which pushed us over the edge and beyond. But instead he was a hugely talented, technical, neat and precise player who played with total control who did not need to risk his life every time he played. When our old Coronel Suárez team was considered practically unbeatable, people thought he should have joined the Santa Ana team so that they could mount a Above: serious challenge against us. Playing at Oak I guess the romantic in me Brook World says that instead of choosing Cup outside Chicago, 1977. to play for Santa Ana, Left: his last Gonzalo preferred to keep picture, playing with his friends for December 2004, his Mar del Plata team. presenting The reality of it is that trophies to children at La he probably preferred to Candelaria Polo continue playing good Club, Argentina polo with Mar del Plata,
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