Enriqueta BASILIO SOTELO

Enriqueta Basilio was a Mexican hurdler and sprinter who achieved fame in 1968 at the Mexico City as the first woman to light the Olympic Torch at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. Known as Queta, she also competed at the 1968 Olympics in the 80 metre hurdles, the 400 metres, and the 4x100 relay. She is the only woman in Olympic history to have competed in both the 80 hurdles and the flat 400.

Basilio Sotelo also ran at the 1967 Pan American Games, placing seventh in the high hurdles, and she won a bronze medal in the 4x100 relay at the 1970 Central American and Caribbean Games. She won multiple Mexican titles in the hurdles. Basilio Sotelo later became a member of the Mexican Olympic Committee. She also worked in politics, serving as a federal deputy with the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).

Personal Bests: 100 – 12.3 (1968); 400 – 55.0 (1968); 80H – 11.20 (1968).