Joseph Guillemot
Joseph Guillemot (1 October 1899 – 9 March 1975) was a French long-distance runner, 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 (160 cm, 55 kg), 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 devised a bold strategy to exhaust the Swedes Eric Backman and Rudolf Falk in the first part of the course. After three laps Nurmi took the lead and built more speed, and only Guillemot followed him. On the final curve Guillemot moved to pass Nurmi on the outside. Nurmi gave up and finished four seconds behind.