Jorge González (Puerto Rican runner)
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Jorge Luis González Rivera | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Peco | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 20 December 1952 (age 71) Utuado, Puerto Rico | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Jorge Luis "Peco" González Rivera (born 20 December 1952) is a former
Olympic runner. He achieved victory in numerous races and participated in various international events, including the Pan American Games and the Olympic Games. In 1982, he set the all-time record for the Ponce Marathon, a record that, as of 2023, remains unbroken.[1]
Biography
González gained significant fame in Puerto Rico, where he is affectionately known as Peco (after Pecos Bill, the fastest cowboy to ever live). Despite high expectations at the 1984 Olympics in
Los Angeles, California
, he did not secure any Olympic medals.
The peak of his popularity was during the 1980s, marked by national tours across Puerto Rico, autograph signings at department stores, and appearances in television commercials.
González, a native of Utuado, Puerto Rico, still resides there. The city hosts the Jorge "Peco" González Coliseum, named in his honor.
González's first marriage to Aida Luz Reyes resulted in his only daughter, Katherine González, who currently resides in the United States.
Athletics career
At the
Caracas, Venezuela, he secured Puerto Rico's first Pan American athletics gold medal.[2]
Achievements
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing  Puerto Rico
| |||||
| 1982 | Central American and Caribbean Games | Havana, Cuba
|
1st | Marathon | 2:26:40 |
| 1983 | Pan American Games | Caracas, Venezuela
|
1st | Marathon | 2:12:43 (NR) |
| 1984 | Olympic Games | Los Angeles, United States
|
13th | Marathon | 2:14:00 |
Montreal International Marathon
|
Montréal, Canada
|
1st | Marathon | 2:12:48 | |
| Honolulu Marathon | Honolulu, United States
|
1st | Marathon | 2:16:25 | |
| 1987 | Pan American Games | Indianapolis, United States | 3rd | Marathon | 2:21:14 |
| 1990 | Montreal International Marathon
|
Montréal, Canada
|
1st | Marathon | 2:16:18 |
| Central American and Caribbean Games | Mexico City, Mexico
|
1st | Marathon | 2:18:55 | |
| 1992 | Pittsburgh Marathon | Pittsburgh, United States | 1st | Marathon | 2:17:33 |
| Olympic Games | Barcelona, Spain
|
— | Marathon | DNF | |
See also
References
- ^ Favoritos del Maratón La Guadalupe. Junior Lugo Marrero. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 29. Issue. 7 December 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
- ^ Caracas vio a Peco González robarse el show
External links
- 1983 Year Rankings
- Jorge González at Olympedia
- Jorge González at Olympics.com
- Jorge González at Olympic.org (archived)
- Jorge González at World Athletics
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