Gladys Erbetta

Gladys Erbetta specialized in multiple track and field events and started to draw international attention when she was fifth in the high jump at the 1951 Pan American Games. The following year she won the long jump at the 1952 South American Championships and was selected to represent Argentina in three events at that year’s Helsinki Olympics. There, she was eliminated in the first rounds of the 200 metres and the 4x100 metres relay (in the latter with Lilián Heinz, Lilián Buglia, and Ana María Fontán), and was 18th in the long jump.

At the 1955 Pan American Games Erbetta took silver in the 4×100 metres relay alongside Heinz, Buglia, and the non-Olympian María Luisa Castelli. She won the long jump again at the 1956 South American Championships, where she also captured the 100 metres title and came second in the 200 metres behind Betty Kretschmer of Chile. She remained active in the sport after her retirement and helped carry the torch for 2018 Youth Olympic Games held in Buenos Aires.

Personal Bests: 100 – 12.2 (1956); 200 – 24.0 (1953); LJ – 5.88 (1956).