Luis Subercaseaux

Luis Subercaseaux Errázuriz (10 May 1882–1973) was a Chilean diplomat and athlete. He is claimed to be the first Chilean and Latin American sportsman to have competed in the Olympic Games, at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens.[1]

Luis Subercaseaux Errázuriz
Chilean Ambassador to Peru
Chile Ambassador to Spain
Chile Ambassador to the Holy See
Personal details
Born(1882-05-10)10 May 1882
Santiago, Chile
Died1973(1973-00-00) (aged 90–91)
Sports career
National team Chile
SportAthletics
Event(s)100 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, High jump, Football
TeamClub de Deportes Santiago Morning

Biography

Born in Santiago, he was the second son of Ramón Subercaseaux Vicuña and Amalia Errázuriz Urmeneta, both of them members of well-known and well-off families, and the brother of Juan Subercaseaux.

According to the Comité Olímpico de Chile, Luis Subercaseaux Errázuriz competed at the age of 13 in the 100, 400 and 800 metres.[1] Many Olympic historians dispute this claim and maintain that, although he was entered in these events, he did not take part in any race.[2] The International Olympic Committee website lists him as a non-starter in the 100 metres[3] and the 800 metres,[4] and does not list him in the 400 metres.[5]

During this period in his life, he studied at the Colegio Benedictino located in the Basque Provinces of France, where he kept his record on the high jump. He was also one of the founding members of the Chilean football team Club de Deportes Santiago Morning and a successful football player.

Through 1928 he was ambassador of Chile in Peru, Spain and the Vatican, in addition to being an attendant of Chilean business in Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Yugoslavia from the consular office in London.

A memorial to Subercaseaux stands in the entrance of the Chilean Olympic Museum.[1]

See also

References

  1. Comité Olímpico de Chile. "La Presencia de Chile en los Juegos Olimpicos" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 20 December 2006. Retrieved 28 December 2006.
  2. "Luis Subercaseaux". Olympedia. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  3. "Athens 1896 Athletics 100m Men Results". Olympics.com. IOC. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  4. "Athens 1896 Athletics 800m Men Results". Olympics.com. IOC. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  5. "Athens 1896 Athletics 400m Men Results". Olympics.com. IOC. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
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