Paul de Bruyn

Born in Weserdeich (Berne, Germany) he became a Navy sailor and settled in New York City, where he started long distance running.

De Bruyn defeated defending champion Jimmy Henigan in 2:33:36, pulling ahead through the final two miles of the race and winning with a margin of 56 seconds.

Not fitting into the training regimen of German athletics he returned to the United States, quit road racing, married and became a U.S. citizen.

As volunteer at the Navy in World War II, he was severely injured by an exploding ship's propeller in October 1945.

One year after he was invited to the 100th edition of the Boston Marathon, he died in Daytona Beach, Florida.