Mateo Flores
Encyclopedia
Mateo Flores, born Doroteo Guamuch Flores (February 11, 1922 – August 11, 2011), was a Guatemala
n long-distance runner
who won several international events, including the Boston Marathon
in 1952.
, 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.
Flores' career spanned from 1941 to 1957; prior to winning the 1952 Boston Marathon, he was the winner of multiple international races, notably the marathon
at the 1946 Barranquilla
Games, the half marathon
at the 1950 Central American and Caribbean Games
in Guatemala, and the marathon at the 1955 Pan American Games
in Mexico City. He also participated in the 1952 Summer Olympics
in Helsinki
.
, 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
.
to Estadio Nacional Mateo Flores
. However, although 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), government authorities showed trepidation in regards to Flores' indigenous ethnicity. The most vivid example of this is that the national stadium named in his honor used his Ladino
version of his given name, Mateo, rather than his indigenous name, Doroteo Guamuch.The controversy also includes the fact that it was the name he took by choice. Many believe that the Guatamalan government should now convert the name of the stadium to honor his idigenous roots.
The government's decision to change the name of this national hero of idigenous descent is just one example of the government's racist policies of cultural segregation that included the exclusion of idigenous people from citizenship in Guatemala in 1952. In order to recognize the great accomplishment of this non-Guatamalan citizen of idigenous descent, Doroteo Guamuch Flores, the government changed his name so that the accolades bestowed upon him would be acceptable to those in power. The resulting redefinition of Guamuch Flores' indigenous ethnicity to Ladino was further evidenced in the choosing his new Ladino name to denote Ladin's main sports facility in that country. Thus, Doroteo Guamuch Flores' success as "Mateo" Flores indicated to the idingenous people of Guatamala that to be accepted they must also adopt Ladino names. This began a trend among the indigenous of Guatemala to seek individual acceptance in the Ladino-controlled governement of Guatemala by changing their names to Ladino names. All this should make us reflect on the impact of a product of modernity as is the case of sport in the Latin American continent, where there has been a distinct practice of racism to exclude indigenous people from participation in sports and in the control of their land.
after his retirement. He has also been a golf
caddy
and occasional player. He was a practicing Roman Catholic. He died on August 11, 2011.
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n long-distance runner
Long-distance track event
Long-distance track event races require runners to balance their energy. These types of races are predominantly aerobic in nature and at the highest level, exceptional levels of aerobic endurance is required more than anything else...
who won several international events, including the Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
in 1952.
Career
Flores was born in Cotió, MixcoMixco
Mixco is a municipality in the Guatemala department of Guatemala.Located next to the main Guatemala City municipality, over time it has become part of the Guatemala City Metropolitan Area. Most of Mixco is separated from the city by canyons, for which a multitude of bridges have been created. ...
, a town near Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
. 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.
Flores' career spanned from 1941 to 1957; prior to winning the 1952 Boston Marathon, he was the winner of multiple international races, notably the marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
at the 1946 Barranquilla
Barranquilla
Barranquilla is an industrial port city and municipality located in northern Colombia, near the Caribbean Sea. The capital of the Atlántico Department, it is the largest industrial city and port in the Colombian Caribbean region with a population of 1,148,506 as of 2005, which makes it Colombia's...
Games, the half marathon
Half marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
at the 1950 Central American and Caribbean Games
1950 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 6th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Guatemala City, Guatemala, from February 28 to March 12, 1950. The games included 1.390 athletes from fourteen nations, competing in nineteen sports.-References:...
in Guatemala, and the marathon at the 1955 Pan American Games
1955 Pan American Games
The 2nd Pan American Games opened on March 12, 1955 in the University Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico, in front of a capacity crowd of 100,000 spectators....
in Mexico City. He also participated in the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
.
1952 Boston Marathon
On April 19, 1952, Flores participated in the Boston MarathonBoston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
, 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
Julio Quevedo
Julio Faustino Quevedo Elias is a former Guatemalan athlete who competed in multiple Summer Olympics. At the 1968 and 1972 Summer Games, he participated in a total of six events. In 1968, he ran in the 1,500 m, 3,000 m steeplechase, and 5,000 m events...
.
Controversy
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 CityGuatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
to Estadio Nacional Mateo Flores
Estadio Mateo Flores
The Estadio Nacional Mateo Flores is a multi-use national stadium in Guatemala City, the largest in Guatemala. It was built in 1948, to host the Central American and Caribbean Games in 1950, and was renamed after long-distance runner Mateo Flores, winner of the 1952 Boston Marathon...
. However, although he was treated as a national hero by the Guatemalan government, which also awarded him the Order of the Quetzal
Order of the Quetzal
The Order of the Quetzal is Guatemala’s highest honor. Established in 1973, it is bestowed by the Government of Guatemala. The award acknowledges officials of nations, organizations and other entities whose artistic, civic, humanitarian, or scientific works merit special recognition....
(the nation's highest civilian honor), government authorities showed trepidation in regards to Flores' indigenous ethnicity. The most vivid example of this is that the national stadium named in his honor used his Ladino
Ladino people
Ladino is a Spanish term used to describe various socio-ethnic categories in Latin America, principally in Central America.The term Ladino is derived from "latino" and usually refers to the mestizo or hispanicized population...
version of his given name, Mateo, rather than his indigenous name, Doroteo Guamuch.The controversy also includes the fact that it was the name he took by choice. Many believe that the Guatamalan government should now convert the name of the stadium to honor his idigenous roots.
The government's decision to change the name of this national hero of idigenous descent is just one example of the government's racist policies of cultural segregation that included the exclusion of idigenous people from citizenship in Guatemala in 1952. In order to recognize the great accomplishment of this non-Guatamalan citizen of idigenous descent, Doroteo Guamuch Flores, the government changed his name so that the accolades bestowed upon him would be acceptable to those in power. The resulting redefinition of Guamuch Flores' indigenous ethnicity to Ladino was further evidenced in the choosing his new Ladino name to denote Ladin's main sports facility in that country. Thus, Doroteo Guamuch Flores' success as "Mateo" Flores indicated to the idingenous people of Guatamala that to be accepted they must also adopt Ladino names. This began a trend among the indigenous of Guatemala to seek individual acceptance in the Ladino-controlled governement of Guatemala by changing their names to Ladino names. All this should make us reflect on the impact of a product of modernity as is the case of sport in the Latin American continent, where there has been a distinct practice of racism to exclude indigenous people from participation in sports and in the control of their land.
Life after retirement
Flores became a Professor of physical educationPhysical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
after his retirement. He has also been a golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
caddy
Caddy
In golf, a caddy is the person who carries a player's bag and clubs, and gives insightful advice and moral support. A good caddy is aware of the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played, along with the best strategy in playing it. This includes knowing overall yardage, pin...
and occasional player. He was a practicing Roman Catholic. He died on August 11, 2011.