If we talk about running races with tradition and tradition, there is no doubt that the first thing that comes to mind is the iconic Allianz Jean Bouin, a test that will celebrate its 101st edition on December 1, more among others throughout Spain. However, few are aware of origin of his name.
The history of this race begins in 1920, when a group of journalists who love athletics decided to organize an urban race similar to Lemmonier Grand Prix of Paris and they baptized him with the name Jean Bouin. But who is Jean Bouin and why is the breed called that?
Alexandre Francois Etienne Jean Bouin He was a well-known French distance athlete and journalist, national 10,000 meter and cross country champion, who began practicing athletics in 1903 and quickly gained international fame by winning important track and cross country races in France, Italy and the United Kingdom.
In 1911 he founded the 10,000m world record with a time of 30:58 and, a year later, he competed at the Stockholm Olympic Games, where he earned a silver medal in 5,000m starring in an epic duel with the Finnish Hannes Kolehmainen.
In addition, he won three consecutive times in Cross of Nationsformer international competition equivalent to the current World Cross Country Championship.
His knowledge of athletics led him to publish a book titled “Comment on devient champion de course à pied” (How to Become a Running Champion), where he explains his natural training method based on specificity, progressiveness and diversity.
But his successful sports career was cut short in 1914 by the outbreak of First World War. Jean Bouin joined as a soldier in one of the French infantry regiments in Nice and, after a few months, he was mobilized to the battlefield, where He lost his life fighting the German army.. He is 26 years old.
After the war, his body was repatriated and he received many tributes from sports clubs and local administrations, who put his name on stadiums, streets and buildings.
French sculptor Constant Roux created a statue of the athlete that now stands next to the Olympique stadium in Marseille. Furthermore, the French government granted him the distinction of Glory of sport and awarded him, posthumously, the military medal.
His fame went beyond the borders of France and reached Barcelona, where the journalists of Mundo Deportivo decided to honor him with a 10K race where they gave his name. This is how Jean Bouin was born.
A test whose legend continues to grow year after year and that next December 1 It will allow you to be a part of it. Because running Jean Bouin is more than running a race, it means being part of the dean of running races in Spain.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Jason Root, a professional writer working with Today Times Live, the premier news website. I specialize in sports writing, covering the biggest stories in the world of athletics. With an eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, I provide engaging and informative articles that capture the key elements of any event or issue. My work has been featured on numerous respected websites and publications around the world.
