Jorge González (Puerto Rican runner)

Jorge Luis "Peco" González Rivera (born 20 December 1952) is a former Puerto Rican Olympic runner. He won many races and competed in many international events, such as the Pan American Games and the Olympic Games. In 1982, he set the all-time record for the Ponce Marathon which as of 2023 has not yet been broken.[1]

For other people with the same name, see Jorge González (disambiguation).
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is González and the second or maternal family name is Rivera.
Jorge González
Personal information
Full nameJorge Luis González Rivera
Nickname(s)Peco
Born20 December 1952 (1952-12-20) (age 70)
Utuado, Puerto Rico
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Puerto Rico
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1983 Caracas Marathon
Bronze medal – third place 1987 Indianapolis Marathon
Central American and Caribbean Games
Gold medal – first place 1982 Havana Marathon
Gold medal – first place 1990 Mexico City Marathon

Biography

González was very famous in Puerto Rico, where people know him as Peco (after Pecos Bill, the fastest cowboy to ever live). Puerto Ricans had high hopes on him, specially at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, California, but he didn't win any Olympic medals.

The height of his fame was during the 1980s, when he would do national tours across Puerto Rico, to sign autographs at department stores and be featured on television commercials.

González was born in Utuado, Puerto Rico, where he still lives. There is a venue called Jorge "Peco" González Coliseum in Utuado, named after him.

González first marriage to Aida Luz Reyes resulted in his one and only daughter, Katherine Gónzalez, who currently lives in the United States.

Athletics career

At the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela, he won the first Pan American athletics gold medal for Puerto Rico.[2]

Achievements
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
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
  1. 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.
  2. Caracas vio a Peco González robarse el show
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