Juan Carlos Zabala(1911-1983)
Champion long distance runner Juan Carlos Zabala was born on October 11, 1911 in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. In 1931 Zabala won the Kosice marathon and set a world record in the 30 km. Moreover, Juan also won the 10,000 m at the South American Championships as well as won both the 3,000 m and the 5,000 m at the unofficial South American Championships in Uruguay in 1931. Zabala went on to win the gold medal in the men's marathon at the 1932 Olympics. However, Juan wound up placing sixth in the 10,000 m and tripped halfway through the men's marathon at the 1936 Olympics. Zapala died at age 71 on January 24, 1983 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Sixteen years after his death Juan was picked as Argentina's track and field athlete of the century.