Juan "Papo" Franceschi

Juan "Papo" Franceschi Vega
Born	c. 1946 Ponce, Puerto Rico
Died	20 October 1990 Ponce, Puerto Rico
Occupation	Athlete

Juan "Papo" Franceschi (c. 1946 – 20 October 1990), was a Puerto Rican track and field athlete from Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Juan "Papo" Franceschi was known as "El Bolido de San Antón". In 1966 he won the gold medal at the X Juegos CAC Games in the 400 metres with a time of 46.7, a new record in the Games. He also won Bronze in the long relay ("relevo largo"). In 1967 he won fourth place at the Panamerican Games in Winnipeg, Canada, with a score of 46.09. He died on 20 October 1990 and is buried at Camposanto Cristo Resucitado in Ponce.

In 2000, he was inducted in the Ponce Sports Hall of Fame.

In 2001, Franceschi became the 101st inductee in the Pabellón de la Fama del Deporte de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame).

In Ponce's Barrio San Anton, there is street named after him. Starting in 1988, his birth city has celebrated a 5K Marathon in his memory.

Franceschi is honored at the Park of Illustrious Ponce Citizens in Tricentennial Park in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

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