Rafael Fortún

Rafael Emilio Fortún Chacón (born August 5, 1919 in Camagüey – died June 22, 1982 in Camagüey) was a male sprinter from Cuba, who twice competed for his native country at the Summer Olympics: 1948 and 1952.[1] His major sporting achievement was winning the 100 and 200 m double at the 1951 Pan American Games, beating American sprinter Art Bragg in both events.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Fortún and the second or maternal family name is Chacón.

Fortun was ranked by the experts of Track and Field News as 10th in the world in 1950 at 100 m and 5th in 1951.[2]

Fortun was a very successful competitor at the Central American and Caribbean Games. He won the 100 m 3 times in row (1946, 1950 and 1954) - the first competitor to achieve such a feat.[3] He also won the 200 m once (in 1946) and was second once (in 1950).[4]

Fortun came from a very humble background in the Cuban province of Camaguey. Originally he was a high jumper but moved the sprints when he realised his talent for them. He also played baseball, a traditional sporting route out of poverty in Cuba at the time.[1] Fortun had to train barefoot until a gift of sporting shoes was made by a local priest.[1] His athletic talent was not appreciated by the authorities in Cuba at the time. He had to seek gifts of money to enable him to attend the Olympic Games of 1948 and 1952 and was fired from his job at the Ministry of Public Affairs for attending the 1951 Pan American Games.[1][5]

Fortun died of cancer in 1982.[1]

Today his achievements are appreciated more in Cuba, his memory is honoured, for example, in an athletics competition in his home province of Camaguey: the Rafael Fortun Memorial competition in Camaguey City.[6][7]

Achievements
Year Tournament Venue Result Event Time
1946 Central American and Caribbean Games Barranquilla, Colombia 1st 100 metres
1st 200 metres
1948 Olympics London, England 5th, SF 2 100 metres
1948 Olympics London, England 6th, SF 2 200 metres
1950 Central American and Caribbean Games Guatemala City, Guatemala 1st 100 metres
2nd 200 metres
1951 Pan American Games Buenos Aires, Argentina 1st 100 metres
1st 200 metres
2nd 4×100 metres relay
1952 Olympics Helsinki, Finland 4th, SF 2 100 metres 10.92/10.7
1954 Central American and Caribbean Games Mexico City, Mexico 1st 100 metres
1955 Pan American Games Mexico City, Mexico 5th 100 metres

References
  1. "Rafael Fortun article (in Spanish)".
  2. "World Rankings Index--Men's 100 meters" (PDF). Track and Field News.
  3. "March 8, 1954".
  4. "CENTRAL AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN GAMES (MEN)".
  5. "Rafael Fortún Chacón, Cuba Sport". Archived from the original on 2010-11-08.
  6. "A toast for Rafael Fortún".
  7. "Robles to Skip Rafael Fortun Memorial".
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