Lochhead maintains family tradition of sporting excellence at Rome 2011
New Zealand's Jason Lochhead (right) and his partner Kirk Pitman lost to Brazilian pair Alison Cerutti and Emanuel Rego in their first match at Rome 2011.
Rome, Italy, June 14 – There are few families in the world who can boast one international athlete in their midst, let alone three. But that is the case for Jim and Pix Lochhead, parents of Jason Lochhead, one half of the New Zealand team at the FIVB Swatch World Championship Rome 2011 powered by smart.
Lochhead’s sister Tracey has played for the New Zealand women’s volleyball team, while his brother Tony helped New Zealand return from the 2010 FIFA World Cup as the only unbeaten team.
“My brother has done very well in soccer and then there’s my sister who is playing for New Zealand indoor,” Lochhead said. “We’re a very sporty family and used to play out a lot when we were young and that’s what has helped us along the way.”
With Lochhead only two years younger than his brother Tony, the pair have been able to help each other out in their respective sporting careers.
Tony now plays in defence for Wellington Phoenix and started all three of New Zealand’s matches in South Africa, to help the All Whites finish above defending champions Italy.
“In the first few years when everything is really tough and you have a lot of downs, if he was going through the same stuff me we could talk about it and help each other with what we were experiencing, so it was a real help for each other,” Lochhead said.
Lochhead and his partner Kirk Pitman had a baptism of fire at Rome 2011 against second seeds Alison Cerutti and Emanuel Rego.
Despite battling to the end the Brazilians finished with the win, 21-19, 21-18.
“It is the World Champs and it only comes round every two years, so you have to go out and give it everything,” Lochhead said.
“Obviously they are a really tough team and have won the last two tournaments, so it was pretty tough and we just had to go out there firing.”
Click here to see Jason Lochhead talk about his opening match at the FIVB Swatch World Championships Rome 2011 powered by smart
