Estrella Puente

Estrella Puente was the first woman to represent Uruguay at the Olympic Games, having been the women’s record holder in javelin throw in the early 1950s. Competing at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, she placed 10th in the javelin throw event, reaching the final and registering a best throw of 41.44. Puente also won the silver medal at the 1955 Pan American Games held in Ciudad de México with a personal best of 43.43 in the javelin throw, which was another South American record.

Puente, born and raised in Montevideo, was later an active tennis player following her athletics career and holder of the the national ladies singles’ championship title from 1954 to 1959, as a member of Círculo de Tenis Montevideo. The Grand Prix Estrella Puente is named in her honor, and a postal stamp bearing her photo was later issued by the Government of Uruguay in 1996.

Personal Best: JT – 43.43 (1955).