Delfo Cabrera

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 Cabrera
Men'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

• Website about Delfo Cabrera (in Spanish)
• sports-reference

Persondata
Name	Cabrera, Delfo
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	April 2, 1919
Place of birth
Date of death	August 2, 1981
Place of death