Silvio Leonard
Encyclopedia
Silvio Leonard Sarría also known as Silvio Leonard Tartabull (born September 20, 1955 in Cienfuegos
) is a former sprinter
from Cuba
. He was the second athlete to run the 100 metres in less than 10 seconds with electronic timing, running in 9.98 seconds on August 11, 1977 in Guadalajara
. The first was 1968 Olympic champion Jim Hines
. He was also fastest in the world in 1977 in the 200 metres also with a time of 20.08.
Leonard was three-time Pan American Games champion, 1975 100 and 1979 100/200. He also won the 1977 100-metre Gold at the World Student Games. In the Central American and Caribbean Championships 1974 he won double Golds in the 100/200 and in 1978 he again defended these same titles again, taking four golds in total. As well as being Cuban champion, he also in 1979 won the soviet 100 metre championship, as well as winning the world cup in the 200 and runner up in the 100.
At the 1980 Summer Olympics
Leonard won a silver medal in 100 metres, finishing behind Allan Wells
of Great Britain. He then went on to finish 4th in the Olympic 200 metre final in a time of 20.30, narrowly missing out on another medal.
Cienfuegos
Cienfuegos is a city on the southern coast of Cuba, capital of Cienfuegos Province. It is located about from Havana, and has a population of 150,000. The city is dubbed La Perla del Sur...
) is a former sprinter
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
from Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. He was the second athlete to run the 100 metres in less than 10 seconds with electronic timing, running in 9.98 seconds on August 11, 1977 in Guadalajara
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
. The first was 1968 Olympic champion Jim Hines
Jim Hines
James "Jim" Ray Hines is a former American track and field athlete, who held the 100 m world record for 15 years. He was the first sprinter to officially break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters.-Track career:...
. He was also fastest in the world in 1977 in the 200 metres also with a time of 20.08.
Leonard was three-time Pan American Games champion, 1975 100 and 1979 100/200. He also won the 1977 100-metre Gold at the World Student Games. In the Central American and Caribbean Championships 1974 he won double Golds in the 100/200 and in 1978 he again defended these same titles again, taking four golds in total. As well as being Cuban champion, he also in 1979 won the soviet 100 metre championship, as well as winning the world cup in the 200 and runner up in the 100.
At the 1980 Summer Olympics
Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics
Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics was represented by 38 events. They were held in the Grand Arena of the Central Lenin Stadium at Luzhniki between July 24 and August 1. There were a total number of 959 participating athletes from 70 countries.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal...
Leonard won a silver medal in 100 metres, finishing behind Allan Wells
Allan Wells
Allan Wipper Wells MBE is a former Scottish athlete, who became Olympic Champion in the 100 metres at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.-Biography:...
of Great Britain. He then went on to finish 4th in the Olympic 200 metre final in a time of 20.30, narrowly missing out on another medal.