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Uruguayan sprinter Walter Pérez, former national record holder of 100 and 200m, died in Lima on 30 December 2009 at the age of 86. During his life, fully dedicated to sports, he was also Vice-President of the National Olympic Committee of Uruguay, and Chief of Mission of his NOC at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Pérez was born on 1 November 1924, and reached his peak in 1944, when ran 10.4 at 100m in Montevideo on 5 February, equaling the existing South American record. On that same year, but on 27 September, also in Montevideo, he ran 21.5 at 200m, setting a national record that stood until 1998, when Heber Viera bettered with 21.42.
His best performances at the South American Championships were at 100m. Pérez finished second at the distance in 1943 (Santiago de Chile) and 1945 (Montevideo), behind Argentina’s Adelio Márquez and Brazil’s José Bento de Assis.
Although he couldn’t compete at the Olympic Games at his prime, Pérez participated in London 1948, but could not advance beyond the first round at either 100m or 200m.
At a time when information was not abundant, Pérez confessed that he had been inspired by the displays of the great Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. “He was a reference for every athlete of the 1940s, especially sprinters”, said Pérez in a past interview. “His legendary figure, his movements full of harmony, his memorable performances at the 1936 Games in Berlin trashing all those negative comments about racial supremacy, and the records obtained at 100, 200, and Long Jump showed him as a unique man: unreachable."
"Since in our region (South America) all technical knowledge was nil, we always looked for other methods to learn, like pictures or rare films that showed the impeccable running style of Owens. I must say that beyond the specific exercises to gain strength and speed, my biggest concern was my style, always trying to run like Owens, chest up, and with no apparent effort. Maybe I was able to get some of that,” ended Pérez.
IAAF
with many thanks to Eduardo Biscayart
