Alfredo Gomes became the first black Brazilian athlete to compete at the Olympics when he ran in the 5,000 metres and the cross-country race at the 1924 Paris Olympics. Gomes also had the honour of being the flag bearer for Brazil at the Opening Ceremony in Paris. In 1925 he became the first winner of the Saint Silvester Road Race held in São Paulo and won multiple other distance races in Brazil during the 1920s. During his career Gomes held the national records in the 800 metres, 1,500 metres, 5,000 metres, and the 10,000 metres. He died in March 1963 at the age of 64 after completing a 3km run on the athletics track at Clube Esperia. In 2018 his grandson wrote the book Alfredo Gomes, Vida, Vitórias e Conquistas (“Alfredo Gomes Life Victories and Achievements”) detailing his life.
Personal Best: 5000 – 16:10.8 (1922).
Brazil