Background
Flores was born in Cotió, Mixco, a town near Guatemala City.
long-distance runner marathon runner
Flores was born in Cotió, Mixco, a town near Guatemala City.
During his early athletic career, Flores worked in 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. He also participated in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.
1952 Boston Marathon He took the lead from his countryman Luis H. Velasquez after the first ten miles, and, against any predictions, finished ahead of United States. 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.
Honors and Flores became a Professor of physical education after his retirement. He has also been a golf caddy working at the Guatemala Country Club and occasional player.
He was a practicing Roman Catholic.
The Boston achievement made Flores a sports icon in his country, and the Guatemalan government paid him tribute 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).
