Adriaan Paulen

Adriaan "Adje" Paulen (; 12 October 1902 – 9 May 1985) was a Dutch athlete who competed from 1917 to 1931. During World War II, he was part of the Dutch resistance in the Netherlands. Following World War II, Paulen became a sports official, becoming president of the IAAF (then International Amateur Athletic Federation), serving from 1976 to 1981.

Sporting career Competing in three Summer Olympics, Paulen earned his best finish of seventh in the 800 m event at Antwerp in 1920. In 1924, he became first of over forty world record breakers (up to his 1985 death) in athletics at Bislett stadion in Oslo, setting a record in 500 m, then an official distance. Besides competing at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, Paulen was also a member of the Organizing Committee.

Later during the war Paulen was engineer at a coal mining industry, the Dutch State Mines. Workers started a strike and Paulen refused to give the Germans a list of strikers and was convicted to death, however Paulen was released soon. In 1944 Paulen crossed the front and joined the allied troops. Paulen kept a diary regarding Operation Market Garden and its aftermath that was released to the public in 1989, four years after his 1985 death, including meeting with United States Army officials during that time On 12 September 1947, by Royal Decree, Paulen was knighted by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, receiving the fourth class (Knight) of the Military William Order. The award is comparable to the British Victoria Cross and seldom awarded.

Sporting official Following the end of World War II, Paulen played a key role in rebuilding the IAAF in 1946. In 1965, Paulen served as director of the Dutch Olympic Committee, a position he held until 1970. Paulen succeeded David Burghley as IAAF President in 1976 and served in that position until 1981.