Manuel Plaza
{{short description|Chilean long-distance runner}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name =
| image = Manuel Plaza.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Manuel Plaza in 1924
| birth_name =
| fullname =
| nationality =
| residence =
| birth_date = 17 March 1900
| birth_place = San Bernardo, Chile
| death_date = 9 February 1969 (aged 68)
| death_place = Santiago, Chile
| height = 171 cm
| weight = 61 kg
| country =
| sport = Athletics
| event = 5000 m – marathon
| pb = 5000 m – 15:12.4 (1926)
10,000 m – 31:54.0 (1926)
Marathon – 2:33:23 (1928)
| club =
| alma_mater =
| retired =
| olympics =
| highestranking =
| show-medals = yes
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry|{{CHI}}}}
{{MedalSilver | 1928 Amsterdam | Marathon}}
}}
Manuel Jesús Plaza Reyes ((17 March 1900 – 9 February 1969) was a Chilean athlete who won the country's first Olympic medal.{{cite web |title=Manuel Plaza |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/66395 |access-date=19 September 2021 |work=Olympedia}} He earned a silver medal in the marathon at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games, finishing with a time of 2 hours, 33 minutes, and 23 seconds, just 26 seconds behind French runner Boughéra El Ouafi.{{cite web|access-date=20 July 2012 |archive-date=17 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217163432/http://comdat.w.interia.pl/1928AMSnr1.pdf |author=Wudarski, Pawel |date=14 April 2012 |format=PDF |language=pl |publisher=comdat.w.interia.pl |title=Wyniki Igrzysk Olimpijskich - Igrzyska IX Olimpiady Ery Nowożytnej Amsterdam 1928 - Bieg maratoński |url=http://comdat.w.interia.pl/1928AMSnr1.pdf}}{{cite web|access-date=14 May 2011 |archive-date=5 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705002529/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1928/ATH/mens-marathon.html |author=Sports Reference LLC |date=2011 |language=en |publisher=sports-reference.com |title=Athletics at the 1928 Amsterdam Summer Games: Men's Marathon |url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1928/ATH/mens-marathon.html}}{{cite web|access-date=28 October 2009 |author=Chiledeportes |date=2007 |format=HTM |publisher=www.chiledeportes.gob.cl |title=Ficha técnica de Manuel Plaza |url=http://www.chiledeportes.gob.cl/Biblioteca/biog-manuel%20plaza.htm}} In the 1924 Paris Olympics, Plaza placed sixth.
Early life and education
Plaza was born in Lampa, Chile, to Camilo Plaza and María Reyes. His family later moved to Santiago, where he attended elementary school at Desiderio Araneda on San Alfonso Street. After learning basic reading, writing, and math, he worked as a newsboy, which he credited with helping him develop his athletic abilities while pursuing his sporting career."Manuel Plaza", Los Sports 219: 5 (20 de mayo de 1927).
Athletic career
Plaza was inspired by runners such as Martiniano Becerra, Benjamín Flores, and Juan Jorquera, which led him to pursue athletics. He began training alone in the ellipse of Parque Cousiño, now Parque O'Higgins, and joined training sessions with established athlete Alfonso Sánchez, who encouraged him to compete.
His first race, at age 16, was a lap around Parque Cousiño, which he won. As a federated athlete, Plaza was a member of the Centenario Athletic Club, Pietro Dorando, and joined Green Cross in 1922.{{cite book|author=Carlos Zeda |date=12 September 1924 |editor=Los Sports |number=79 |page=207-209 |title=Manuel Plaza, nuestro único punto olímpico, nos cuenta su vida y sus hazañas deportivas |url=http://www.memoriachilena.cl/archivos2/pdfs/MC0067844.pdf}}
During the 1920s, Plaza excelled in long-distance events in South America.{{cite web|access-date=17 February 2015 |author=Athletics Weekly |date=2007 |format=HTM |language=en |publisher=www.gbrathletics.com |title=South American Championships (Men) |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/sac.htm}} Besides his silver medal in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, he placed sixth in the marathon at the 1924 Paris Olympics.{{cite web|access-date=14 May 2011 |archive-date=23 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223225951/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pl/manuel-plaza-1.html |author=Sports Reference LLC |date=2011 |language=en |publisher=sports-reference.com |title=Manuel Plaza Biography and Olympic Results |url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pl/manuel-plaza-1.html}}{{cite web|access-date=20 July 2012 |archive-date=17 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217163432/http://comdat.w.interia.pl/1928AMSnr1.pdf |author=Wudarski, Pawel |date=20 November 2011 |format=PDF |language=pl |publisher=comdat.w.interia.pl |title=Wyniki Igrzysk Olimpijskich - Igrzyska VIII Olimpiady Ery Nowożytnej Paryż 1924 - Bieg maratoński |url=http://comdat.w.interia.pl/1928AMSnr1.pdf}} At the 1923 South American Championship, he finished third in the 5,000 meters and second in the 10,000 meters. He went on to win four gold medals in each of the next three editions of the championships (1924, 1926, and 1927) in the 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, cross-country, and 3,000 meters team events. Plaza also won the cross-country and 32 km races in 1933.
He was Chile's flag bearer at the opening ceremonies of the 1924 Paris and 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games.{{cite web|access-date=14 May 2011 |archive-date=22 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222062643/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/CHI/ |author=Sports Reference LLC |date=2011 |language=en |publisher=sports-reference.com |title=Chile - Olympics |url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/CHI/}}
A myth circulated that Plaza finished second in the Amsterdam marathon after getting lost shortly before reaching the finish line, a version he himself promoted.{{cite web|access-date=1 May 2018 |archive-date=2 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502140203/http://www.coch.cl/?p=1089 |language=es-ES |title=LA HISTORIA DEL OLIMPISMO NACIONAL, MANUEL PLAZA {{!}} Comite Olimpico de Chile |url=http://www.coch.cl/?p=1089 |website=www.coch.cl}}
References
{{commons category|Manuel Plaza}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Plaza, Manuel}}
Category:Chilean male long-distance runners
Category:Olympic athletes for Chile
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1924 Summer Olympics
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1928 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic silver medalists for Chile
Category:Chilean male marathon runners
Category:Medalists at the 1928 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)
Category:People from Maipo Province