- Delfo Cabrera
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This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Cabrera and the second or maternal family name is Gómez.
Medal record
Delfo CabreraMen's athletics Competitor for Argentina
Olympic Games Gold 1948 London Marathon Pan American Games Gold 1951 Buenos Aires Marathon Delfo Cabrera Gómez (April 2, 1919 – August 2, 1981) was an Argentine athlete, winner of the marathon race at the 1948 Summer Olympics in one of the most dramatic finishes in athletics history.
Biography
Born in Armstrong, Santa Fe, Delfo Cabrera played football as a youth, but decided to turn to athletics after Juan Carlos Zabala's triumph at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
He moved to Buenos Aires in 1938 and began training in San Lorenzo de Almagro under Francisco Mura. At the same year, he won his first national championships title (in 5000 m). Over the years he would win 9 more titles, but none of them in marathon.
Cabrera served in the army during the World War II, where he met Juan Perón. After the war, being a friend of Perón, he was active member of Justicialist Party. He received the Peronist Medal in 1949.
The London Olympic Games were Cabrera's first major international tournament. Etienne Gailly from Belgium dominated the marathon race most of the way and until almost the very last moments. He was the first to enter the stadium, but with 400 m to go, Gailly fell down, exhausted, got up and fell again. It was like Dorando Pietri's dramatic finish 40 years before. Cabrera and Tom Richards of Great Britain managed to pass the staggering Gailly, Cabrera winning by 16 seconds ahead of Richards.
Cabrera participated also at the 1952 Summer Olympics, gaining sixth place in the marathon. Cabrera ended his athletics career after finishing sixth at the 1954 Boston Marathon. After that he taught physical education in several schools.
Delfo Cabrera died in a car accident near Buenos Aires.
Achievements
Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes Representing Argentina
1952 Olympic Games Helsinki, Finland 6th Marathon 2:26:42.4 External links
Olympic Champions in Men's Marathon - 1896: Spyridon Louis (GRE)
- 1900: Michel Théato (FRA)
- 1904: Thomas Hicks (USA)
- 1908: Johnny Hayes (USA)
- 1912: Ken McArthur (RSA)
- 1920: Hannes Kolehmainen (FIN)
- 1924: Albin Stenroos (FIN)
- 1928: Boughera El Ouafi (FRA)
- 1932: Juan Carlos Zabala (ARG)
- 1936: Sohn Kee-chung (JPN)
- 1948: Delfo Cabrera (ARG)
- 1952: Emil Zátopek (TCH)
- 1956: Alain Mimoun (FRA)
- 1960: Abebe Bikila (ETH)
- 1964: Abebe Bikila (ETH)
- 1968: Mamo Wolde (ETH)
- 1972: Frank Shorter (USA)
- 1976: Waldemar Cierpinski (GDR)
- 1980: Waldemar Cierpinski (GDR)
- 1984: Carlos Lopes (POR)
- 1988: Gelindo Bordin (ITA)
- 1992: Hwang Young-Cho (KOR)
- 1996: Josia Thugwane (RSA)
- 2000: Gezahegne Abera (ETH)
- 2004: Stefano Baldini (ITA)
- 2008: Samuel Wanjiru (KEN)
Pan American Champions in Men's Marathon 1951: Delfo Cabrera (ARG) • 1955: Mateo Flores (GUA) • 1959: John J. Kelley (USA) • 1963: Fidel Negrete (MEX) • 1967: Andy Boychuk (CAN) • 1971: Frank Shorter (USA) • 1975: Rigoberto Mendoza (CUB) • 1979: Radamés González (CUB) • 1983: Jorge González (PUR) • 1987: Ivo Rodrígues (BRA) • 1991: Alberto Cuba (CUB) • 1995: Benjamín Paredes (MEX) • 1999 – 2003: Vanderlei de Lima (BRA) • 2007: Franck de Almeida (BRA) • 2011: Solonei da Silva (BRA)Categories:- 1919 births
- 1981 deaths
- People from Santa Fe Province
- Road accident deaths in Argentina
- Argentine athletes
- Argentine long-distance runners
- Olympic athletes of Argentina
- Olympic gold medalists for Argentina
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1948 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1951 Pan American Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1952 Summer Olympics
- Olympic medalists in athletics (track and field)
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