As a captain of the Chilean carabineros, Cristi became the first Chilean Olympian to win two medals, winning the silver medal in both the individual and the team jumping competition at Helsinki. The surprise medals, won with his ride Bambi, were the highlights of Cristi’s career, although he added two team bronze medals at the 1955 (with Mario Leuenberg and the non-Olympians Leopoldo Rojas and Guillermo Aranda) and 1959 Pan American Games (with Américo Simonetti and the non-Olympians Gastón Zuñiga and Joaquín Larraín). Having risen to the rank of deputy director-general of the carabineros, Cristi was killed in a car accident in 1965. The Chilean riding school for carabineros is named in honour.
Date of birth also seen as 26 and 28 June. Year of birth also seen as 1916.