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Did Delfo Cabrera win 1948 Olympic marathon for GB?

Question asked:

“Delfo Cabrera, representing Great Britain, won the gold medal in the marathon at the 1948 Summer Olympics.”
False
Confidence: High Checked on September 7, 2026

Summary

Delfo Cabrera was an Argentine athlete who won the marathon at the 1948 Summer Olympics. He competed for Argentina, not Great Britain. Therefore, the claim that he represented Great Britain and won the gold medal is incorrect.

Sources 60 searched

nytimes.com
  • 83,000 AT OLYMPICS; U.S. Gains 10th Victory in 1,600-Meter Relay on Last Track Day (Published 1948)

    All records for Olympic receipts were broken as the citizens of a nation sweating out an existence of austerity and sacrifice sent the boxoffice total to an estimated ÂŁ500,000 ($2,000,000), but above the victory of any one nation or individual and of more import than the almost unbelievable financial success of what had seemed a badly mismanaged enterprise was the unmistakable flowering of the spirit the Olympics seek to inculcate. Fireman First in Marathon It transcended even the sensational triumph of a virtually unknown Argentine fireman, Delfo Cabrera of Buenos Aires, in the climactic test of endurance-the marathon race.

en.wikipedia.org
  • Delfo Cabrera - Wikipedia

    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.

  • Athletics at the 1948 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon - Wikipedia

    The race was won by Delfo Cabrera of Argentina, the nation's second victory in three Games (though the victories were 16 years apart). Tom Richards's silver medal put Great Britain on the podium for the third time in a row, while Étienne Gailly earned Belgium's first marathon medal with his bronze.

  • List of 1948 Summer Olympics medal winners - Wikipedia

    The 1948 Summer Olympics (also known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad) was an international multi-sport event held from July 29 through August 14, 1948, in London, United Kingdom. ... Athletes who won at least two gold medals or three or more medals are listed below.

olympedia.org
  • Olympedia – Athletics at the 1948 Summer Olympics

    By the time of the London Olympics, she was 30 years old, but she was the world record holder in the 100 metres, the 80 metre hurdles, high jump, and long jump. She elected to compete in the 100, 200, high hurdles and on the Dutch relay team, and she won gold medals in all four events, sitting out two events in which she was the world record holder. The 1948 ...

  • Olympedia – Marathon, Men

    With the world recovering from the effects of World War II, it was difficult to choose a favorite in 1948. Finland’s Viljo Heino was to make his marathon début at London and, as the world-record holder at 10,000 metres and in the one-hour run, he was considered someone to watch.

  • Olympedia – Delfo Cabrera

    He ended his athletics career after the 1954 Boston Marathon, where he finished sixth. Cabrera later taught physical education in several schools. He died in a car accident near Buenos Aires. Personal Best: Mar – 2-26:43 (1952). Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the Summer Pan American Games (1–0–0 1951 Buenos Aires ATH gold: marathon)

worldathletics.org
  • Delfo CABRERA | Profile | World Athletics

    Delfo CABRERA · Marathon · Argentina · Born02 APR 1919 · Delfo's code14555604 · 1X · Olympic champion · 1X · In top 8 at Olympic Games · Personal bests · Marathon · Result2:26:43 · Date27 JUL 1952 · Score848 · Competition & venueOlympiastadion, Helsinki (FIN) * Not legal ·

olympics.com
  • Delfo CABRERA - Olympics.com

    He was the first to enter the stadium, ... marathon. Cabrera and Tom Richards of Great Britain managed to pass the staggering Gailly, Cabrera winning by 16 seconds ahead of Richards, with Gailly taking bronze....

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