Rafael Gómez Ortega

Rafael Gómez Ortega, (July 16, 1882 – May 25, 1960) also known as El Gallo ("the rooster") was an early twentieth century bullfighter. He came from a family of famous bullfighters, including his matador father, Fernando Gómez García and matador younger brother, José Gómez Ortega. He is today remembered for several of his unique fighting techniques such as the espantada - or "sudden flight", which simply consisted of him fleeing when the bull entered the ring.[3] Other techniques included fighting bulls from a chair.

Rafael Gómez Ortega
Rafael Gómez "Gallito" Ortega in a "monumental pass" given to his first bullfight on October 8, 1912 in Madrid
Born(1882-06-16)June 16, 1882[1]
Madrid, Spain
DiedMay 25, 1960(1960-05-25) (aged 77)[1][2]
Seville, Spain
Resting placeCemetery of San Fernando, Spain
NationalitySpaniard
Other namesGallito, El Gallo (The Rooster) and Divine Bald
Occupationbullfighter
Spouse(s)
Pastora Imperio
​
​
(m. 1911; div. 1912)​
Parents
  • Fernando Gómez García (father)
  • Gabriela Ortega Feria (mother)
RelativesJosé Gómez Ortega (brother) and Fernando Gómez Ortega (brother)
FamilyFamilia Gallo
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Gómez and the second or maternal family name is Ortega.

His fights were considered amusing to audiences, and he was brought out of retirement seven times because of this "sportsmanship". He finally retired on October 4, 1936.[4] Commentators find that his intermittent fear of the bulls was characteristic of his style, noting that he was often brave when it suited him, and gave in to panic when it did not.[4]

Ortega later wasted his fortune, and was supported by Juan Belmonte. He was briefly married to Pastora Imperio, a famous flamenco dancer.[5]

He died on 25 May 1960 at the age of 77.[2]

References
  1. Bayort, Jesús (2019-03-05). "Rafael Gómez Ortega "el Gallo"" (in Spanish). Madrid: ABC. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
  2. Historia del toreo en México (in Spanish). Editorial Diana. 1979. p. 125. ISBN 9789681303976.
  3. Juan-José López Burniol (2016-01-29). "La 'espantá'" [The 'scare'] (in Spanish). Barcelona: La Vanguardia. Retrieved 2019-12-29. Cuando veía que no podía dominar al toro, daba la espantá. Yo he sido siempre un hombre lógico. Estaba delante del toro y veía que me iba a coger, porque cuando los toros van a coger, avisan. Hay un presentimiento. Y si sabes que el toro te va a coger, ¿te vas a quedar delante de él? Por supuesto que no. Y ahí está el porqué de la - espantá (translates to "When I saw that I could not dominate the bull, I was terrified. I have always been a logical man. I was in front of the bull and saw that he was going to charge, because when the bulls are going to charge at you, they warn you. You can feel it. And if you know that the bull is going to charge at you, are you going to stay in front of him? Of course not. And there is the reason for the scare.")
  4. José Luis Ramón Carrión, "Rafael Gómez Ortega", Diccionario Biográfico (in Spanish), Real Academia de la Historia
  5. Bárcena, E. (20 February 2018). "La boda de Pastora Imperio y "El Gallo": así fue la primera gran unión entre un torero y una folclórica" [The wedding of Pastora Imperio and «El Gallo»: this was the first great union between a bullfighter and a flamenco singer]. ABC (in Spanish). Madrid: Vocento. Retrieved 29 December 2019.


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