I caught up with Luis Álvarez Cervera recently, just before he headed to the Tokyo Olympics as the Showjumping Coach to the New Zealand Eventing Team.
Luis is no stranger to the Olympics, the Spanish Rider has competed in no less than Six Olympic Games between 1972 and 1996, in one of those games he competed in both the Eventing and Showjumping Teams for Spain, narrowly missing out on a Medal in the 1992 Games in Barcelona when the Spanish Showjumping Team finished in 4th place, missing out on the medals by 0.75 of a fault! His son Eduardo Álvarez Aznar is following in his father’s footsteps and is competing for Spain in Tokyo as an individual in the Showjumping Competition, this being his second Olympics.
Background in Horses.
Luis spent his early years in El Salvador a country in Central America and started riding quite young as his parents were involved in horses. Luis’s father was a soldier in the Army who rode and also showjumped, while his mother was also a rider and enjoyed side saddle.
Early Training.
The Family moved back to Spain in 1959 and this is when Luis began his training at Club De Campo in Madrid, a country club that boasts a large array of sporting facilities. Luis recalls that he had many great coaches at Club De Campo, but one coach that stands out in his mind is Colonel Ordovás, an old army rider who had competed in the 1952 Olympics. The other coach that Luis has always held in high regard is the Irish Showjumper Iris Kellett. Luis trained with Iris at the Kellett Riding School in Mespil Road in Dublin, Ireland, in the early 60’s for 3 consecutive summers.
I asked Luis although he has had, many success what was his most memorable Equestrian Achievement? He replied;
“Well it’s much like the first kiss, my first Spanish Championship Win in 1967 aged 20 and also my first Grand Prix Win in Barcelona.”
Following this I asked Luis, was becoming an Olympian always the goal? He answered;
“Yes, once I got my first real taste of Victory by winning the Spanish Open Championships in 1967, I looked toward the Olympics.”
Luis didn’t have to wait too long as he went to his first Olympic Games in 1972 in Munich, in Germany, just 5 years after that first Major win in the Spanish Championship.
Special Horses in His Career.
Although Luis has had many amazing horses throughout his Career, a couple came up during our conversation. The Thoroughbred horse Banpour that Luis won his first championship on, Luis reflected;
“Banpour was the first horse that I had success with, I won both my first Spanish Championship and my first Grand Prix with him.”
The other horse that came up during our chat was an Irish Horse called Touch and Go that was owned by the Harty family, a well known Equestrian family from Ireland. The horse was sent over to Spain for Luis to ride and was the reason that Luis began Eventing. Luis had great success with the horse, but his Eventing career took a back seat until the 1990’s leading up to the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. In the Barcelona Games Luis took a superb individual 7th Place in the Eventing Competition with Mr. Chrisalis, while taking 5th place in the Team Eventing Competition. He then went onto narrowly miss out on a Medal in the Team Showjumping Competition at the same Olympic Games.
Coaching Career.
Luis has not only coached his own son, International Showjumper Eduardo Álvarez Aznar who is competing in his second Olympics in Tokyo, but Luis has been the Showjumping Coach to the New Zealand Eventing Team since 2011 and had great success with the team.
Luis said the New Zealand Eventing Team this year is very strong, comprising of the Husband and Wife Powerhouse Team, Tim Price and Jonelle Price, sitting 2nd and 7th respectively in the FEI World Eventing Rankings. The other Team mate is Jesse Campbell, who has been racking up a string of impressive results on the Eventing World Stage.
I asked Luis, what were his Goals for the New Zealand Team at this Olympics in Tokyo? His reply;
“Always to win!”
Breeding Horses in Ireland.
Luis also developed a passion for breeding Thoroughbreds and he and his good friend, the Late Paul Darragh along with Alan Storme had a successful breeding program set up at Paul’s Base, Waterside Stud in County Meath. Luis reflects;
“I was delighted to breed a Champion, a mare called Sil Sila, who won the French Oakes in 1996.”
New Website Launched on Luis’s Birthday!
In this age of the World Wide Web, Luis launched his New Website on his Birthday this year, the website www.luisalvarezcervera.com, documents many of the Amazing Successes in this 6 time Olympian’s career, but also the services he offers from; Horse Sales, To Clinics, Sports Management, To Lectures and Breeding Advice. I asked Luis about his Clinics.
“My Clinics cater to riders of all levels, those with young horses, to professionals. Language is not a barrier and we are planning on running clinics in Ireland, the UK and Europe in the near future.”
Best Advice for a Young Rider.
I asked Luis for his best advice for a Young Rider starting out in their career? Here is what he had to say;
“Learn to ride well, get the Basics right. Get a Good Coach to help you and be selective with your horses. You need a good horse to be competitive.”
Luis Álvarez Cervera
Luis Álvarez Cervera in Action at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona – Video from Pitasport Channel on Youtube
The Secret to a Successful Career.
I finished by asking Luis what was the secret to a successful career? It surprised me that despite all of his success he was very humble and said;
“I just kept looking ahead, to the next Goal I wanted to achieve.”
Pretty sound advice if you ask me, from a man that has achieved so much within Equestrian Sport. We wish Luis and the New Zealand Eventing Team the very Best of Luck at the Tokyo Olympics. Perhaps we will be lucky enough to meet Luis at a Clinic in Ireland in the near future, until then if you would like to find out more about Luis and his work you can contact him through his website, www.luisalvarezcervera.com