Daniel Bautista facts for kids
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's athletics | ||
Representing  Mexico |
||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | 1976 Montreal | 20 km walk |
| Pan American Games | ||
| Gold | 1975 Mexico City | 20 km walk |
| Gold | 1979 San Juan | 20 km walk |
Daniel Bautista Rocha (born August 4, 1952) is a famous Mexican former track and field athlete. He was an Olympic champion in racewalking. Daniel was born in El Salado, a town in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
In his career, Daniel Bautista was very good at racewalking. He was strong in both track and road events.
Contents
Becoming a Champion
Winning at the Pan American Games
Daniel first gained international attention in 1975. He won the 20 kilometer (km) walk at the Pan American Games. These games were held in his home country, Mexico City. This big win made him a top favorite for the Olympic Games the next year.
Olympic Gold in Montreal
At the 1976 Summer Olympic Games in Montreal, Daniel Bautista won the gold medal. He finished ahead of two athletes from East Germany. Hans-Georg Reimann won the silver medal. The defending Olympic champion, Peter Frenkel, took the bronze.
After the race, Daniel was very tired and thirsty. He had to drink many soft drinks. This helped him provide enough fluid for the required drug test.
Setting World Records
In the years after his Olympic win, Daniel Bautista continued to excel. He set two new world records in the 20 km walk. He also achieved the best times of the year at other distances. In 1977 and 1979, he won the IAAF World Race Walking Cup. This was also for the 20 km walk event.
Later Career
At the 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow, Daniel faced a challenge. He was disqualified from the 20 km walk. This happened when he was only 1,800 meters from the finish line. He also started the 50 km walk in the same games. However, he had to stop after about 30 km. After these games, Daniel Bautista decided to end his successful career.
See also
In Spanish: Daniel Bautista para niños
