José Antonio Lopetegui
José Antonio Lopetegui Aranguren (1930 – 17 December 2024) was a Spanish weightlifter who competed in the traditional Basque sport of stone-lifting (harri-jasotze).[1]
Biography
[edit]Born in Azpeitia, Gipuzkoa in 1930,[2] Lopetegui was one of eleven siblings; all eight brothers took part in the same sport. He was known by the nickname Aguerre II, with his older brother Luis being Aguerre I. He was able to lift a 100 kg stone 22 times in a minute. The eight brothers attempted to set a record of each lifting 188 kg at the same time, but were persuaded not to by their wives, who considered stone-lifting to be a rural pastime not befitting of their new statuses as urban businessmen. Aguerre I died in 1969, leaving the attempt unfulfilled and Aguerre II the pre-eminent face in the sport.[2][3]
On the orders of General Francisco Franco, Lopetegui was courted to be a heavyweight boxer, an offer that would have made him wealthier and more famous nationally and internationally.[4] He turned down the offer as he considered himself to be sufficiently wealthy through his businesses: a bus company, restaurant and hostel. A fellow Basque, José Manuel Urtain, took up the dictator's invitation and achieved fame before committing suicide.[2][3]
Lopetegui was also the mayor of Asteasu. Among his children was Julen Lopetegui, who played for and managed the Spain national football team.[2]
Lopetegui died on 17 December 2024, at the age of 94.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Torres, Diego (21 July 2016). "Lopetegui, de las piedras a Cruyff" [Lopetegui, from the stones to Cruyff]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ^ a b c d Mucha, Martín (28 October 2018). "El forzudo que sostiene a Lopetegui: "A mi hijo le han robado 50 goles"" [The strongman who supports Lopetegui: "My son has been robbed of 50 goals]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ^ a b Olaizola, Borja (31 July 2016). "Los forzudos Lopetegui" [The Lopetegui strongmen]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ^ Muñoz, E. (11 March 2022). "El padre de Lopetegui también fue una estrella del deporte: de levantar piedras a rechazar una petición de Franco" [Lopetegui's father was also a sporting star: from lifting stones to turning down an offer from Franco]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ^ Munarriz, Jon (17 December 2024). "Fallece José Antonio Lopetegui 'Agerre II', legendario harrijasotzaile y padre de Julen Lopetegui" [José Antonio Lopetegui 'Aguerre II', legendary harrijasotzaile and father of Julen Lopetegui, dies]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 December 2024.