Choi Yun-chil

Choi Yun-chil (born July 19, 1928) is a former South Korean long-distance runner who was a two-time Olympian[1] and a two-time national champion in the marathon.[2]

This is a Korean name; the family name is Choi.

Choi Yun-chil

Personal information
Born	July 19, 1928 (1928-07-19) (age 92) Dancheon, Japanese Korea (now North Korea)
Sport
Country	South Korea
Sport	running
Event(s)	marathon
Korean name
Hangul	최윤칠
Hanja	崔崙七
Revised Romanization	Choe Yunchil
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'oe Ryunch'il
Achievements and titles
National finals	Two-time champion
Olympic finals	1948 (DNF), 1952(4th)
Medal record Men's athletics Asian Games 1954 Manila Men's 1500 m 1954 Manila Men's 5000 m

Choi led the marathon at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London before dropping out with less than 5 kilometers left in the race.[3] He finished third in the 1950 Boston Marathon,[4][5] but the Boston Athletic Association denied his entry into the follow year's event.[6] During the height of the Korean War, BAA President Walter A. Brown stated: "While American soldiers are fighting and dying in Korea, every Korean should be fighting to protect his country instead of training for marathons. As long as the war continues there, we positively will not accept Korean entries for our race on April 19."[6] In 1952, Choi would finish fourth in the Olympic marathon at Helsinki.[7]

References

1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Choi Yun-Chil". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17.
2. https://www.arrs.run/NC_MaraKOR.htm
3. Martin, David E.; Roger W. H. Gynn (May 2000). The Olympic Marathon. Human Kinetics Publishers. p. 188. ISBN 978-0-88011-969-6.
4. https://www.arrs.run/MaraRank/ATM_Mara1950.htm
5. Sport: Koreans in a Hurry. Time, May 1, 1950.
6. Sport: Banned in Boston. Time, February 12, 1951.
7. Martin, David E.; Roger W. H. Gynn (May 2000). The Olympic Marathon. Human Kinetics Publishers. pp. 205–207. ISBN 978-0-88011-969-6.