Alberto Garabito

In 1959 Bolivian sports journalists voted Alberto Garabito as the country’s Athlete of the Year. He went on to dominate Bolivian marathon and distance running in the 1960s and 70s. He took part in many national and international marathons and one of his finest results was in finishing fifth, and first in the foreign category, in the “La Maratón de los Barrios”.

Garabito broke the 21-year-old Bolivian 5,000 metres record in 1960 and four years later he was one of two Bolivians, with Alejo Montano, entered for the marathon at the Tokyo Olympics, but neither man started the race. Garabito disappeared in 1983 and more than 40 years later, nothing has been heard of him.