Mateo Flores

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Mateo Flores (born February 11, 1922^[1]), né Doroteo Guamuch Flores, is a former Guatemalan runner who won the Boston Marathon in 1952.

Flores, born in Cotió, Mixco, was a long-distance runner from 1941 to 1957. He won multiple events, notably the marathon in the 1946 Barranquilla Games and the half marathon in the 1950 Central American and Caribbean Games in Guatemala. On April 19, 1952, against any predictions, he became the winner of the Boston Marathon, a major international racing event. He won by almost five minutes and recorded a time of 2 hours, 31 minutes, and 53 seconds.^[2] Flores took the lead from his countryman Luis H. Velasquez after 10 miles, and finished ahead of U.S. competitor Victor Dyrgall.

That same year, Guatemalan government paid tribute to him by renaming the national stadium in Guatemala City to Estadio Nacional Mateo Flores. After his success in Boston he became a sports icon in his country.

Flores participated in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.

After his retirement, he became a Professor of physical education. He has also been a golf caddy and occasional player. He is a practicing Roman Catholic.