Suh Yun-bok
Encyclopedia
Suh Yun-bok is a former South Korea
n athlete, who is best known as the winner of the 1947 Boston Marathon
. He won the race with a world best time of 2:25:39 under the coach Sohn Kee-chung
, the Korean winner of the marathon at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. His participation in the Boston Marathon was financed by donations from servicemen in the United States Forces Korea
. His win was the only time a world best for the men's marathon
was set at the Boston Marathon
. The previous world best was set by his coach Sohn in Tokyo, Japan in 1935. At 166 cm tall and weighing 56 kg, he was said to be the shortest winner ever of the Boston Marathon.
In 1948, one year after the Boston victory, Suh raced the marathon in 1948 Summer Olympics
held in London. He retired in 1949.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n athlete, who is best known as the winner of the 1947 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...
. He won the race with a world best time of 2:25:39 under the coach Sohn Kee-chung
Sohn Kee-chung
Sohn Kee-Chung became the first medal-winning Korean Olympian, when he won the gold medal in the marathon at the 1936 Berlin Olympics as a member of the Japanese delegation....
, the Korean winner of the marathon at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. His participation in the Boston Marathon was financed by donations from servicemen in the United States Forces Korea
United States Forces Korea
United States Forces Korea refers to the ground, air and naval divisions of the United States armed forces stationed in South Korea....
. His win was the only time a world best for the men's marathon
Marathon world best progression
This list is a chronological progression of record times for the marathon. World records in the marathon are now ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations, the international governing body for the sport of athletics. Awaiting ratification, the IAAF world record for men is...
was set at 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...
. The previous world best was set by his coach Sohn in Tokyo, Japan in 1935. At 166 cm tall and weighing 56 kg, he was said to be the shortest winner ever of the Boston Marathon.
In 1948, one year after the Boston victory, Suh raced the marathon in 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
held in London. He retired in 1949.
Marathon career
- May 1946: Champion at the 1st All-Korea Marathon (전조선 마라톤 선수권대회)
- September 1946: Champion at the 1st Korea National Track and Field Meet (전국육상선수권대회)
- October 1946: Champion at the Korea National Sports Festival (전국체육대회)
- April 1947: Set a world record of 2:25:39 at the 51st Boston MarathonBoston MarathonThe 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...
- June 1948: represented South Korea in the 1948 Summer Olympics1948 Summer OlympicsThe 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...