Marlene Elejarde Díaz (also spelled Elejalde, June 3, 1951 – April 29, 1989) was a Cuban sprinter and hurdler. She made history at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City by helping Cuba secure a silver medal in the 4 × 100-meter relay. Elejarde achieved multi-medal dominance on the regional stage, notably sweeping three gold medals in the 100-meter hurdles, pentathlon, and the 4 × 100-meter relay at the 1970 Central American and Caribbean Games. Her career ended when she died in a car accident in April 1989 at the age of 37.
Early life and career She was born on 3 June 1951 in Marianao, Ciudad de La Habana.
Her first Olympics were in the 1968 Summer Olympics, where she won the silver medal at 43.3 seconds in the 4 × 100 meters relay with Fulgencia Romay, Violeta Quesada, and Miguelina Cobián, losing to the team from the United States of America in 42.8 seconds, consisting of Barbara Ferrell, Margaret Bailes, Mildred Netter, and Wyomia Tyus. In the third place, followed by the Soviet Union in 43.3 seconds, consisting of Lyudmila Zharkova, Galina Bukharina, Vera Popkova, and Lyudmila Samotesova. At the event, she also competed in the 80 meters hurdles but only placed 4th in heat 2 of round 1 in three rounds
At the 1970 Central American and Caribbean Games, she won three gold medals in all the sports he competed in. She won gold medals in the 100 m hurdles, the pentathlon, and the 4 × 100 meters relay at the Olympics alongside her teammates in Olympic. Quesada was replaced by Cristina Hechevarría with a time of 44.7 seconds, followed by Panama and Mexico.
Death She died in a car accident on 29 April 1989.
International competitions Representing 1966Central American and Caribbean GamesSan Juan, Puerto Rico4th80 m hurdles11.71967Central American and Caribbean ChampionshipsXalapa, Mexico1st80 m hurdles11.61stPentathlon4186 pts1968Pan American GamesMexico City, Mexico16th (h)80 m hurdles10.92nd4 × 100 m relay43.361970Central American and Caribbean GamesPanama City, Panama1st100 m hurdles13.9 (w)1st4 × 100 m relay44.71stPentathlon4534 pts1971Central American and Caribbean ChampionshipsKingston, Jamaica1st100 m hurdles13.71st4 × 100 m relay45.41stPentathlon4341 ptsPan American GamesCali, Colombia2nd100 m hurdles13.542nd4 × 100 m relay45.01 –PentathlonDNF1972Pan American GamesMunich, West Germany3rd4 × 100 m relay43.361973Central American and Caribbean ChampionshipsMaracaibo, Venezuela1st100 m hurdles13.91st200 m hurdles28.0 (w)1st4 × 100 m relay45.9UniversiadeMoscow, Soviet Union9th (h)100 m hurdles14.01974Central American and Caribbean GamesSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic5th100 m12.031st100 m hurdles14.531st4 × 100 m relay44.901975Pan American GamesMexico City, Mexico3rd100 m hurdles13.802nd4 × 100 m relay43.65
Personal bests 100 metres – 11.83 (1976) 80 metres hurdles – 10.99 (1968)
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