Carl LINDER

Carl Linder was selected for the 1920 Olympic marathon based on his third-place finish at that year's Boston Marathon. Linder's greatest marathon performance came in 1919 when he won the Boston race. Linder was born in what was then Russia, but was later part of Finland. He came to the USA in 1902 and was naturalized as a US citizen in 1910. He was originally an all-around athlete and won New England titles in the javelin and decathlon. He was turned down for the US Army during World War I because of flat feet.

Linder attempted to make the 1924 and 1928 Olympic marathon teams, without success, although in 1924 he finished in the top six at Boston, seemingly making the team, but the coaches chose Ralph Williams over Linder. Linder ran Boston almost every year through the 1920s, finishing in the top six four times, placing fourth in 1921, fifth in 1924 and 1927, and sixth in 1928. Linder worked as a pattern maker.

Personal Best: Mar – 2-25:29 (1922).