Bucci's late-career surge: From childhood dream to Rome Grand Prix glory
Italian showjumper Piergiorgio Bucci, 51, won the Rolex Grand Prix in Rome in May, fulfilling a childhood dream. He has had a standout 2026 season with victories in Mexico and Miami, and finished fourth at the World Championships after a last-fence error. He now competes at the Brussels Stephex Masters.
Bucci's path to the sport was unconventional—his family had no riding background, and his hometown lacked a showjumping tradition. As a child, he played with plastic horses and watched Western films solely for the equestrian scenes. His preparation for the World Championships was methodical: he increased Hantano's workload early in the season, competed at La Baule and Rotterdam, then allowed the horse recovery time. That planning nearly yielded a medal, but a rail at the final fence in the last round dropped him from silver to fourth.
Bucci's late-career success may resonate with older athletes across sports, challenging assumptions that elite performance belongs only to the young. His story could inspire recreational riders and spectators who see their own postponed ambitions reflected in his Rome victory. It may also shift how sponsors and selectors evaluate veteran competitors, potentially extending career windows in a sport where horse-rider partnerships take years to develop.