The Most Famous
ATHLETES from Chile
Top 4
The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary Chilean Athletes of all time. This list of famous Chilean Athletes is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity.
1. Marlene Ahrens (1933 - 2020)
With an HPI of 52.35, Marlene Ahrens is the most famous Chilean Athlete. Her biography has been translated into 21 different languages on wikipedia.
Marlene Ahrens Ostertag-Ebensperger (July 27, 1933 – June 17, 2020) was a Chilean athlete. She won the silver medal in Javelin throw at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne with a distance of 50.38 metres. She was the mother of journalist Karin Ebensperger.
2. Manuel Plaza (1900 - 1969)
With an HPI of 44.50, Manuel Plaza is the 2nd most famous Chilean Athlete. His biography has been translated into 22 different languages.
Manuel Jesús Plaza Reyes (17 March 1900 – 9 February 1969) was a long-distance runner from Chile. He competed in the marathon at the 1924 and 1928 Olympics and won a silver medal in 1928, becoming the first Olympic medalist from Chile. His time of 2:33:23 was only 26 seconds behind that of France's Boughera El Ouafi. He placed sixth in 1924, and served as the flag bearer for Chile at both Olympics.
3. Ramón Tapia (1932 - 1984)
With an HPI of 43.80, Ramón Tapia is the 3rd most famous Chilean Athlete. His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.
Ramón Tapia Zapata (March 17, 1932 in Antofagasta – April 12, 1984) was a Chilean boxer who won the silver medal in the middleweight division at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Tapia died in 1984.
4. Óscar Cristi (1916 - 1965)
With an HPI of 40.98, Óscar Cristi is the 4th most famous Chilean Athlete. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Óscar Cristi Gallo (June 29, 1916 – March 25, 1965) was a Chilean police officer and a successful show jumping rider from the late 1940s until the late 1960s. In 1952 he won both the individual and team Olympic silver medals in the jumping competition of the equestrian event. He was the first Chilean athlete to win two Olympic medals. The Chilean team jumping in 1952 was Óscar Cristi on Bambi, César Mendoza on Pillán and Ricardo Echeverría on Lindo Peal. On March 25, 1965, Óscar Cristi had a fatal car accident as he was about to retire from the post of Deputy Director-General of the Carabineros. In 1992 the riding school in Santiago operated by the Carabineros was renamed in his honor.
People
Pantheon has 4 people classified as Chilean athletes born between 1900 and 1933. Of these 4, none of them are still alive today. The most famous deceased Chilean athletes include Marlene Ahrens, Manuel Plaza, and Ramón Tapia. As of April 2024, 1 new Chilean athletes have been added to Pantheon including Óscar Cristi.
Deceased Chilean Athletes
Go to all Rankings
Marlene Ahrens
1933 - 2020
HPI: 52.35
Manuel Plaza
1900 - 1969
HPI: 44.50
Ramón Tapia
1932 - 1984
HPI: 43.80
Óscar Cristi
1916 - 1965
HPI: 40.98
