| Birth Date: | 4 April 1944 |
| Birth Place: | Lins, São Paulo |
| Death Place: | São Carlos, São Paulo |
| Height: | 1.82m (05.97feet) |
| Weight: | 71kg (157lb) |
| Sport: | Athletics |
| Event: | Triple jump |
| Pb: | 17.27 m (1968) |
| Show-Medals: | yes |
Nelson Prudêncio (April 4, 1944 – November 23, 2012) was a Brazilian athlete who competed in the triple jump. He won silver medals at the 1967 and 1971 Pan American Games and 1968 Summer Olympics, and a bronze at the 1972 Summer Olympics. Prudêncio was ranked world's #2 in 1968, #3 in 1972, #5 in 1975, and #8 in 1971.[1]
Prudêncio's jump of 17.27m (56.66feet) at the 1968 Olympics was the world record before Viktor Saneyev extended it to 17.39m (57.05feet) a few minutes later.[2]
Prudêncio was Professor of Physical Education at the Federal University of São Carlos and vice-president of Confederação Brasileira de Atletismo (Brazilian Athletics Confederation).[1] [3] He died of lung cancer on November 23, 2012, in São Carlos. He was 68 years old.[4]