Suh Yun-bok (9 January 1923 – 27 June 2017) was a South Korean marathoner, 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. For half of the race, one of his shoes was untied. At Heartbreak Hill, he was tripped up by a dog that ran out onto the race course.
His win was the first 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.
In the weeks leading up to the Boston Marathon, he stayed at the home of Norman Paik in Dedham, Massachusetts.
In 1948, one year after the Boston victory, Suh competed in the marathon at the 1948 Summer Olympics held in London. He retired in 1949.
Marathon career May 1946: Champion at the 1st All-Korea Marathon () September 1946: Champion at the 1st Korea National Track and Field Meet () October 1946: Champion at the Korean National Sports Festival () April 1947: Set a world record of 2:25:39 at the 51st Boston Marathon June 1948: represented South Korea in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, UK
See also List of winners of the Boston Marathon
References