Sports in Guatemala - Birthplace of Mateo Flores!

body">Did you know- At the 2002 Central American and
Road to London 2012!Caribbean Games in San Salvador (ES), Guatemala
A National Herowon 86 medals (22 gold, 22 silver, 42 bronze) and
Did you know- Like Miguel Angel Asturias (1967 Nobelfinished sixth in unofficial team standings, trailing Mexico
Prize for Literature) and Rigoberta Menchú (1992(351), Venezuela (277), Colombia (179), Dominican
Nobel Prize in Peace), Mateo Flores is one of theRepublic (132), and Puerto Rico (134). Thirty-two years
national heroes of Guatemala, a Spanish-speakingago, the Olympic team finished 11th in the medal count,
nation. On April 19, 1952, Mr Floresmade internationalwith six medals (2 silver and four bronze).
headlines when he, a worker, won the BostonGymnastics
Marathon (with a time of 2hrs, 31 min., and 53 sec.),Did you know- By the late 1980s, the country's athlete
ahead of his compatriot Luis Velasquez and VictorMaria Inés Flores-Wurmser became one of Latin
Dyrgall of New York. Six years ago, Mr Flores, whoseAmerica's most respected gymnasts. At the 1988
real name was Doroteo Guamuch Flores, earned aSeoul Games, Miss Flores-Wurmser came in 61st
gold medal in the men's 10,000m at the 1946 Centralplace in the women's vault, among 90 athletes of the
American and Caribbean Games in the Colombian cityworld.
of Barranquilla. Later on, by 1954, he won a gold medalSoccer
in the men's 5, 000m in the Caribbean Games inDid you know- The national squad finished second in
Mexico City. The following year, Flores was selectedthe CONCACAF Olympic Qualification Tournamentand
for the national team that went to the Pan Americanwon the right to compete in the Games of the 21st
Games in the United Mexican States, where heOlympiad in the Canadian city of Montreal in July 1976.
finished first in the men's marathon, sparking offSeven years later, by 1983, the team from Guatemala
celebrations in the Guatemalan capital. He was born onwon the silver medal in men's soccer --outpacing Brazil,
February 11, 1920, in Cotió, Mixco, Guatemala.Chile and Mexico-- at the Pan American Games in
Because of his example, discipline, dedication andCaracas, Venezuela.
contribution to the sports history of Guatemala, MateoWeightlifting
Flores is an idol in Central America.Did you know- By 1974, in the Pan American
BoxingWeightlifting Tournament in Mexico City, Guatemala
Did you know- Guatemala City hosted the Caribbeanwon four medals ( one silver and three bronze) and
Boxing Tournament in 1975.took sixth place in unofficial team standings.
Caribbean Games