1948: Julio César León became the first Venezuelan to participate in an Olympic Games

At 23 years old and despite the obstacles of the Venezuelan Cycling Federation, he managed to participate in the London 48 Olympics and the national tricolor could be seen thanks to León for his desire and dedication.

“I didn't have any money, I had no chance of going to the Olympics. I couldn't find the formula to go. The Venezuelan Cycling Federation didn't want me to go anywhere because we were going to make a fool of ourselves,” León said on many occasions.

This native of Trujillo, although he did not win a medal, became one of the most outstanding in the world of cycling.

However, his beginnings in this discipline, he won national championships: 1940, 1941 and 1942. Five years later, in 1947, he won the gold medal in speed cycling at the II Bolivarian Games held in Peru. During the World Cycling Championship in France in that same year, he ranked in the top eight with a time of 10.9 seconds.

Julio César León is an example of perseverance and inspiration for today's generations.

Mazo News Team