Birth name Andrés Tan Franco Sport Athletics Height 1.83 m | National team Philippines Died 9 February 2008 | |
Born November 30, 1925 ( 1925-11-30 ) Tondo, Manila, Philippine Islands | ||
Andrés Tan Franco (30 November 1925 – 9 February 2008) was a Filipino former high jumper who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics.
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Early life
Franco was born in 30 November 1925 in Tondo, Manila to Sabina Tan and Agaton Franco. He is the youngest among 6 siblings. He had four sisters and one older brother. Franco is of Spanish and Chinese descent.
Sporting career
The highlight of Franco's career was his participation at the 1951 Asian Games in the high jump event finishing 1.93m. He won a bronze in the next edition in 1954. He participated at the 1952 Summer Olympics in the high jump event finishing 31st. Franco stood six foot tall.
Franco later played basketball, then he became a basketball referee upon his retirement as a basketball player.
Later life
The former high jumper then started his career as a police officer. He became a technical official in track and field.
During the early years of the Philippine Amateur Basketball League approached one sports writer at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum complaining that the PABL officials at the gate of the sports venue won't let him watch the then ongoing game where his son Aris is playing. The journalist approached PABL chairman, Oscar Villadolid who recognized Franco. Villadolid introduced Franco to the stuff then dictates from then on he is to be allowed to watch any game he pleases and a seat at the presidential box is to be reserved for him. Franco then watched numerous games at the Coliseum.
Sometime in his later years, Franco suffered a stroke but remained on watching games at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. He died in early 2008 due to a lingering illness.
Honors
Athlete of the Decade (1945-1954) by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.