Carlos Gracida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carlos Gracida
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Carlos Gracida at the International Polo Club, Ylvisaker Cup Tournament, 2010.
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| Born | September 5, 1960 |
| Died | February 25, 2014 (aged 53) |
| Children | Carlos Jr., Mariano, María-Camila |
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Carlos Gracida (born September 5, 1960 – died February 25, 2014) was a famous Mexican-American polo player. He was one of the best players in the world. He became a "10-goal" player, which is the highest rank in polo, when he was just 25 years old.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Polo Start
Carlos Gracida was born in Mexico City. He came from a family of polo players. His father, Guillermo, was also a very skilled player. Carlos started playing polo when he was only five years old. By the age of ten, he was already competing in matches.
Carlos first reached the top "10-goal" handicap in 1985. He kept this high ranking for more than fifteen years. He played for famous teams like Ellerstina and La Espadana.
Amazing Achievements
Carlos Gracida won many important polo tournaments. In 1994, he won almost every major competition. This included the Argentinian Triple Crown, which has three big tournaments: Hurlingham, Tortuguitas, and Palermo.
That same year, he also won the US Open and the British Open Gold Cup. This made him the only player ever to win the "Grand Slam of Polo." He achieved this amazing feat three times: in 1987, 1988, and 1994.
Carlos and his brother, Guillermo "Memo" Gracida, were both incredible players. They won the "Player of the Year" award in America five times. Carlos won more tournaments than any other player in the history of polo. He won the Abierto Argentino de Palermo, one of the most important tournaments, five times. He was also the only non-Argentine player to win the Olimpia de Plata, Argentina's top player award, in 1988.
He won the British Open Gold Cup ten times, which is more than anyone else. He also won the US Open nine times.
Famous Connections and Horses
Carlos Gracida was very popular in England. He was even said to be HM Queen Elizabeth's favorite polo player. He often taught polo lessons to famous people and royalty. His students included HRH Prince Charles, HRH Prince William, HRH Prince Harry, and even actor Sylvester Stallone.
Carlos had some very famous horses. His horse Chesney won the "Best Playing Pony" award many times. Another favorite horse was Nony Nony, who won the Gold Cup in England seven times. In 2012, Carlos Gracida was honored by being added to the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame.
Later Life
Carlos Gracida lived in Wellington, Florida. He became a US citizen a few months before he passed away. On February 25, 2014, Carlos Gracida died from injuries he received during a polo match at the Everglades Polo Club in Wellington.
See also
In Spanish: Carlos Gracida para niños
