Nam Sung-yong

Nan Shoryu (Japanese南 升 竜) ( born November 23, 1912 in Suncheon in Chosen, a former Empire of Japan, South Korea today, † 20 February 2001), born as Nam Sung -yong ( Kor. 남승룡 ,南 升 龙) was a South Korean marathoner who was successful in the mid- 1930s. Since Korea is not an independent state, but part of the Japanese Empire was at this time, he had to start for Japan. He was forced by the Japanese side made ​​to use when attending the Japanese reading of his name南 升 竜Nan Shoryu under which he was also known then.

The 1.65 m wide and 56 -pound athlete was 1933-1936 in four runs (all of which took place in Tokyo ) in the top five:

At the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, he took along with two other Korea -born Japanese - Son Kitei and Shiwaku Tamao - part. When Juan Carlos Zabala, the Olympic champion from Los Angeles four years earlier, at 32 km the race ended prematurely, the way was open for Son Kitei and Nan Shoryu. Son presented with 2:29:19,2 hours on a new Olympic record and has won more than two minutes ahead of the Briton Ernest Harper ( silver in 2:31:23,2 Std) Olympic champion. Nan Shoryu ran into 2:31:42,0 hrs personal best and won the bronze medal safely - the fourth place, the Finn Erkki Tamila, just over a minute later came to the finish.

After finishing his sports career Nan Shoryu was - now under his real name Nam Sung -yong - working for the Korean Association of Athletics Federations. In April 1947, the now 34 -year-old again in the Boston Marathon and came in 2:40:10 hrs at a respectable 10th place.