Carmen Laura Valdés Capote (born November 23, 1954) is a Cuban former sprinter who won an Olympic bronze medal in the 4 × 100-meter relay at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich alongside teammates Marlene Elejarde, Fulgencia Romay, and Silvia Chivás. On the continental stage, Valdés secured a silver medal in the same event at the 1971 Pan American Games in Cali. In addition to her relay success, she competed in the 100-meter semifinals at the 1972 Olympics, where she finished sixth in her heat.
Early life and career She was born on 23 November 1954 in San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque.
In 1971, she won a silver medal in the 4 × 100 meters relay at the 1971 Pan American Games in 45.0 seconds with Silvia Chivás, Fulgencia Romay, and Marlene Elejarde, losing to the team from the United States of America in 44.5 seconds, consisting of Orien Brown, Pat Hawkins, Mattiline Render, and Iris Davis, followed by Colombia in 45.9 seconds, consisting of Aida Ortíz, Ana Maquilón, Elsy Rivas, and Juana Mosquera.
Then, she competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics and won bronze medal in the same sport with the same team that competed the 1971 Pan American Gamesfinishing in 43.360 seconds and their team loses to Federal Republic of Germany that consist of Ingrid Becker, Annegret Richter Heide Rosendahl and Christiane Krause that won gold in 42.810 seconds followed after German Democratic Republic in 42.950 seconds consist of Christina Heinich, Bärbel Struppert Renate Stecher and Evelin Kaufer. At the event, she also competed in the 100 meters sprint but only placed in position 6, heat 1, semifinals
Award She was inducted in hall of fame of Central American and Caribbean Athletics.
International competitions Representing 1971Central American and Caribbean ChampionshipsKingston, Jamaica1st4 × 100 m relay45.4Pan American GamesCali, Colombia2nd4 × 100 m relay45.011972Olympic GamesMunich, West Germany11th (sf)100 m11.523rd4 × 100 m relay43.361973Central American and Caribbean ChampionshipsMaracaibo, Venezuela2nd100 m11.61st4 × 100 m relay45.9UniversiadeMoscow, Soviet Union8th (sf)100 m11.715th (sf)200 m24.31974Central American and Caribbean GamesSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic1st100 m11.551st200 m23.761st4 × 100 m relay44.901975Pan American GamesMexico City, Mexico8th100 m11.742nd4 × 100 m relay43.651976Olympic GamesMontreal, Canada19th (qf)100 m11.5210th (h)4 × 100 m relay44.291978Central American and Caribbean GamesMedellín, Colombia1st4 × 100 m relay44.37
Personal bests 100 metres – 11.1 (1976)
References