Hortensia García

Hortensia "Stretch" López García (also known as Hortencia López; January 20, 1930 – February 29, 2016) was a Mexican-American javelin thrower, softball player, and basketball player. Representing Mexico, she won a gold medal in the javelin at the inaugural 1951 Pan American Games.[3] In 1978, she became the first female player to be elected to the El Paso Softball Hall of Fame, and later served as the organization's president.[1]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is López and the second or maternal family name is García.
Hortensia García
Personal information
Born(1930-01-20)January 20, 1930[1]
El Paso, Texas
DiedFebruary 29, 2016(2016-02-29) (aged 86)[2]
Sport
SportAthletics, Softball, Basketball
Event(s)Javelin throw
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)39.45m (1951)[3]
Medal record
Representing  Mexico
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place1951 Buenos AiresJavelin throw

García was one of only three women sent by Mexico to compete in the 1951 Pan American Games in Buenos Aires, compared with 64 Mexican men sent that year.[4] In the javelin throw, she finished fifth in the preliminary round and advanced to the finals, where she threw 39.45 metres to take the gold medal, 1.37 m ahead of second-place Amelia Bert of the US. However, her performance was challenged by the Panama athletics delegation, who claimed that only four athletes should have been allowed to advance to the finals. It was the first protest in Pan American Games history.[5]

García was initially disqualified, moving Panamanian athlete Judith Caballero up to the bronze medal position. But on the following day, it was announced that the protest was unsuccessful and overturned. Some records stil do not indicate García's win, or indicate her preliminary round mark of 32.68m as her final result.[6][5] Nonetheless, García was admired by other female athletes. After the Games, it was revealed that a Chilean runner stole García's glasses to keep as a souvenir.[4]

References
  1. Santillan, Richard A. (24 July 2017). Mexican American Baseball in El Paso. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 1439661456.
  2. "Hortencia "Stretch" Garcia Lopez". Dignity Memorial. 2016.
  3. Zabitka, Matt (5 April 1955). "Lansdowne Girl Can't Sew But She Threads Needle With Javelin; Started 'Just For Fun'". Chester Times. Chester, Pennsylvania, USA. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  4. Kidd, Bruce (19 April 2018). Historicizing the Pan-American Games. Abingdon, United Kingdom: Routledge. p. 154. ISBN 1315414279.
  5. Óscar I. Guevara (14 October 2011). "Ad Hominem Deportivus". Televisa Sports (in Spanish).
  6. I Pan American Game, Buenos Aires 1951 Women, Field. Track and Field Brinkster. Retrieved on 2018-01-13.
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