Career
Born in Weserdeich (Berne, Germany) he became a Navy sailor and settled in New York City, where he started long distance running. De Bruyn went on to participate in the marathons of the 1932 and the 1936 Summer Olympics. He finished 15th in 1932 and gave up at km 35 in 1936.
Not fitting into the training regimen of German athletics he returned to the United States, quit road racing, married and became a United States. citizen.
As volunteer at the Navy in World World War II, he was heavily injured by an exploding ship"s propeller in October 1945. After the war he worked as engineer in New York City.
In 1967 he retired and moved to Florida, where he kept himself fit by long hiking tours and swimming.