Jean BOUIN

Jean Bouin was the first great French distance runner, winning French titles from 1910-13, and setting world distance records for France in 1911 – 3,000 metres and 10K, both in Colombes. Bouin competed at two Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the 1908 3-mile team race, perhaps, and a silver medal in the 1912 5,000 metres. In 1908, Bouin had partied prior to the 3-mile team race and was punished by French authorities who refused to recognize his time as a national record, and there is some confusion as to whether or not they allowed him to receive the bronze medal.

Bouin was International Cross-Country Champion in 1912, just prior to the Stockholm Olympics, after having finished second in 1909. In 1913 he set a world record for the hour run with 19,021 metres (11 miles, 1,454 yards). Bouin served in World War I for France as a soldier with the 163e Régiment d’Infanterie. He was killed in action by enemy fire in the last days of the 1st Battle of the Marne.