Joseph Guillemot

Who was Joseph Guillemot?

Joseph Guillemot was a French athlete, winner of 5000 m at the 1920 Summer Olympics.

Born in Le Dorat, France, Joseph Guillemot's lungs were severely damaged by mustard gas, when he fought in World War I. Also his heart was located on the right hand side of his chest. Despite of this, Guillemot, an athlete of small size, but with extraordinary vital capacity, won his regiment's cross county championships.

In the next year Guillemot won a French Military Championships, followed by his first national championship title in 5000 m in 1920. That qualified him to the Olympic Games. In Antwerp, the main favourite was Paavo Nurmi. In the 5000 m final, Nurmi has devised a bold strategy in order to exhaust the dangerous Swedes Eric Backman and Runar Falk in the first part of the course. After three laps Nurmi takes the lead and builds more speed and only Guillemot follows him. In a half distance Guillemot still refuses to yield and Nurmi begins to lose heart. On the final curve Guillemot moved to pass Nurmi on the outside and, unaccustomed to final stretch sprinting, Nurmi gives up completely and jogs to the finish line four seconds after the winner has broken the tape.