Mateo Flores (footballer)

Mateo Flores, born Mateo Flores Rosales (February 11, 1922 – September 11, 1972), was a Guatemalan long-distance runner. He is best known for winning the Boston Marathon in 1952, the only Guatemalan to ever achieve this honor.

Flores's victory in the Boston Marathon solidified his status as a national hero in Guatemala. His athletic achievements inspired many Guatemalans to pursue sports and physical fitness.

He also won a gold medal in the 1950 Central American and Caribbean Games marathon in Guatemala City and a silver medal at the 1954 edition in Mexico City.

The Estadio Nacional Mateo Flores, Guatemala's national stadium, is named in his honor. The stadium is one of the largest in Central America and has hosted numerous international sporting events.

Flores died tragically in a traffic accident in 1972. However, his legacy as a pioneering athlete and a source of national pride endures. His name remains synonymous with perseverance, determination, and Guatemalan sporting excellence.