Simeon Galvez Toribio (September 3, 1905 – June 5, 1969) was a

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

high jumper. He competed at the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics and won a bronze medal in 1932. In 1928, he cleared the same height as the silver and bronze medalists

Benjamin Hedges Benjamin Van Doren Hedges, Jr. (June 8, 1907 - December 31, 1969) was an American athlete who competed mainly in the high jump. He graduated from Princeton University in 1930. He competed for the United States in the 1928 Summer Olympics he ...

and Claude Ménard, but lost the jump-off and placed fourth. Toribio served as the flag bearer for the Philippines at the 1936 Games, where he finished 12th.Ramon J. Farolan (September 8, 2008) "War-torn Afghanistan wins Olympic bronze". ''Philippine Daily Inquirer''. In 1930 he was awarded the title "Asia’s Greatest Athlete".

Biography

According to author Jorge Afable, Toribio could have won the gold medal, if not only for the "call of nature". It was a grueling four-hour competition to jump over the bar raised at six feet and six inches high. Toribio, who once made the jump, failed to overcome it the second time because he was distressed by call of nature. Toribio studied at

Silliman University Silliman University (also referred to as Silliman or SU) is a private university, private Research institute, research university in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, the Philippines. Established in 1901 as Silliman Institute by the Presbyte ...

,Silliman University: History
. su.edu.ph. Retrieved September 11, 2009. and later became a civil engineer. In 1941, he was elected to the

House of Representatives of the Philippines The House of Representatives of the Philippines ( fil, Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan ng Pilipinas, italic=unset, ''Kamara'' or ''Kamara de Representantes'' from the Spanish language, Spanish word ''cámara'', meaning "chamber") is the lower house ...

, representing the Second District of Bohol, and served until 1953. He settled in Carmen, Bohol and died there in 1969. His descendants are currently continuing his legacy in Public Service.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Toribio, Simeon 1905 births 1969 deaths Athletes (track and field) at the 1928 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1932 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1936 Summer Olympics Sportspeople from Zamboanga City Sportspeople from Bohol Boholano people Filipino male high jumpers Filipino civil engineers Olympic track and field athletes for the Philippines Olympic bronze medalists for the Philippines Silliman University alumni Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Bohol National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) players Filipino sportsperson-politicians Medalists at the 1932 Summer Olympics Olympic bronze medalists in athletics (track and field) Members of the National Assembly of the Philippines Philippine Sports Hall of Fame inductees