Nimeño II

Christian Montcouquiol known as “Nimeño II” is a Matador French, born with Spire (Germany) the March 10th 1954, died with Caveirac (France, department of the Gard) the November 25th 1991.

Presentation

Career

Beginnings in public on March 30th, 1967 with Tarascon (France, department of the Rhone delta).
First Novillada without picadors the July 19th 1969 with Saint-Gilles (France, department of Gard); novillos of Andre Pourquier.
First Novillada with picadors the May 28th 1972 with Lunel (France, department of Herault); and first great success, which launches its career and from which it will not practice any more the novilladas without picador, the May 17th 1975 with Nimes (France, department of Gard): novillos of Matías Bernardos.
Presentation in Spain the August 17th 1975 with Santiestéban del Puerto (Spain, Province of Jaén); novillos of Germán Gervás.
Alternate in Nimes the May 28th 1977; godfather Angel Teruel, witness “Manzanares”; bulls of Torrestrella.
Presentation as matador in Spain the May 30th 1977 with Barcelona; bulls of Matías Bernardos.
Confirmation of alternative to Mexico City the January 28th 1979; godfather Manolo Martínez, witness Dámaso González; bulls of Tequisquiapan.
Confirmation of alternative to Madrid the May 21st 1979; godfather Rafael Of Paula, pilot Angel Teruel; bulls of Shine Algarra.

Biography

Brother of Alain Montcouquiol “Nimeño I”, “Nimeño II” remains principal the still today appeared of the French bullfighting. After its first novillada in Nimes on May 17th, 1975, it obtains the assistance of Manolo Chopera, one of the most important Spanish organizers of bullfight. This one opens the doors of many Spanish arenas to him. Until 1982, it takes part in a great number of bullfights in Spain, France and Latin America.

In 1982, it separates from Manolo Chopera, and continues under the direction of his brother. The May 14th 1989, has Nimes, it takes part in a Mano has mano in company of Portuguese Victor Mendes, in front of bulls of Guardiola. Mendes, wounded by its first bull, “Nimeño” must face only the six bulls: there it gains this day a memorable triumph after a bullfight of anthology.

The September 10th 1989, in Arles, it must face bulls of Miura. Its second bull, “Pañolero”, hustle it violently and propels it in the air. “Nimeño” falls head first, injuring very strongly the cervical ones: the Marseilles surgeons who operate it recognize that, never, they had not had to deal with somebody wounded also seriously with the cervical ones; in all the cases which they had been able to know, the casualty had died in the minutes having followed the accident. It remains between the life and death during several days. Once out of danger, there remains paraplegic and fights a long time to recover the use of its members. During long months, the French afición follows, almost day after day, its evolution. More than one year after its accident, it finally recovered the use of its two legs and its right-hand man; on the other hand, the left arm remains paralyzed and all indicates that it will be definitively thus. The November 25th 1991, it commits suicide by Pendaison in the garage of its house.

Homage

“Nimeño II” has its statue near the arenas of Nimes; the arenas of Eauze (Gers) bear the Arena name “Nimeño II”; in the arenas of Arles (France, department of the Rhone delta), of Mount-with-Marsan (France, department of the Moors), of Béziers (France, department of the Herault), of Aguascalientes (Mexico) in particular, commemorative plaques perpetuate its memory; each year the “Trophy Nimeño II” rewards a novillero without picadors, triumphant victor in the arenas of Nimes; finally, in 2000, the arenas of Caveirac, village close to Nimes in which he lived, were baptized “Arenas Nimeño II”; the place which is in front of the arenas of Béziers was baptized “Place Nimeño II”.

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