Doroteo Guamuch Flores, also called Mateo Flores (February 11, 1922 – August 11, 2011),[1] was a Guatemalanlong-distance runner who won several international events, including the Boston Marathon in 1952.
Career
Guamuch was born in Cotió, Mixco, a city near Guatemala City. During his early athletic career, Guamuch worked as a low-paid laborer in a textile factory. He would wake at 4:00 am to run for two hours, and run an additional two hours after returning from work at 6:00 pm.
On April 19, 1952, Guamuch participated in the Boston Marathon, a major international racing event. He took the lead from his countryman Luis H. Velasquez after the first ten miles, and, against any predictions, finished ahead of U.S. competitor Victor Dyrgall by almost five minutes, recording a time of 2 hours, 31 minutes, and 53 seconds. His record remained as a national record for Guatemala for seventeen years, until November 5, 1969, when it was broken by Julio Quevedo.[2]
Honors and awards
The Boston achievement made Guamuch a sports icon in his country, and the Guatemalan government honored him by renaming the national stadium in Guatemala City to Estadio Nacional Mateo Flores. He was treated as a national hero by the Guatemalan government, which also awarded him the Order of the Quetzal, the nation's highest civilian honor.
Life after retirement
Guamuch became a professor of physical education after his retirement. He was also a golfcaddie working at the Guatemala Country Club and occasional player. He was a practicing Roman Catholic. He moved to Los Angeles, CA and lived there for several years. He moved back to Guatemala City prior to his death.
