Delfo Cabrera
Encyclopedia
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.
, 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 second
s 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.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
athlete, winner of the marathon race at the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
in one of the most dramatic finishes in athletics history.
Biography
Born in Armstrong, Santa FeArmstrong, Santa Fe
Armstrong is a city in the southwest of the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It has 10,411 inhabitants as per the . It is located from the provincial capital Santa Fe, west of Rosario and from Cañada de Gómez, on National Route 9 near the intersection with National Route 178.The economy of the...
, Delfo Cabrera played football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
as a youth, but decided to turn to athletics after Juan Carlos Zabala
Juan Carlos Zabala
Juan Carlos Zabala -aka: "El Ñandú Criollo"- was an Argentine athlete, winner of the marathon race at the 1932 Summer Olympics....
's triumph at the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
.
He moved to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
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
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, where he met Juan Perón
Juan Perón
Juan Domingo Perón was an Argentine military officer, and politician. Perón was three times elected as President of Argentina though he only managed to serve one full term, after serving in several government positions, including the Secretary of Labor and the Vice Presidency...
. After the war, being a friend of Perón, he was active member of Justicialist Party
Justicialist Party
The Justicialist Party , or PJ, is a Peronist political party in Argentina, and the largest component of the Peronist movement.The party was led by Néstor Kirchner, President of Argentina from 2003 to 2007, until his death on October 27, 2010. The current Argentine president, Cristina Fernández de...
. He received the Peronist Medal in 1949.
The London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
were Cabrera's first major international tournament. Etienne Gailly
Etienne Gailly
Etienne Gailly was a Belgian athlete who competed mainly in the Marathon.Etienne Gailly was a Belgian who served as a paratrooper during WW2. Towards the end of the War, as he participated in the liberation of his home country in late 1944, Gailly was profoundly moved by the devastation to his home...
from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
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
Dorando Pietri
Dorando Pietri, often wrongly spelt Petri was an Italian athlete famous for his dramatic finish and eventual disqualification in the marathon at the 1908 Summer Olympics held in London.-Early years:Pietri was born in Mandrio, a frazione of Correggio, but spent his youth in Carpi...
's dramatic finish 40 years before. Cabrera and Tom Richards of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
managed to pass the staggering Gailly, Cabrera winning by 16 second
Second
The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock....
s ahead of Richards.
Cabrera participated also at the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
, gaining sixth place in the marathon. Cabrera ended his athletics career after finishing sixth at the 1954 Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
. After that he taught physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
in several schools.
Delfo Cabrera died in a car accident near Buenos Aires.
Achievements
| Representing | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Olympic Games Athletics at the 1952 Summer Olympics At the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, 33 athletics events were contested, 24 for men and 9 for women. There were a total number of 963 participating athletes from 57 countries.-Medal table:-Men's events:-Women's events:-References:... |
Helsinki, Finland | 6th | Marathon | 2:26:42.4 Athletics at the 1952 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon -Results:... |