Anilus Joseph

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameAnilus•Joseph
Used nameAnilus•Joseph
Born21 January 1945
Measurements180 cm / 70 kg
NOC Haiti

Biography

Haiti’s Anilus Joseph’s presence in athletics competitions in the 1970s aroused interest and suspicion. The country’s President “Baby Doc” Duvalier picked team members based on either friendship, or loyalty to his infamous Security Force (previously known as Tonton Macoute), rather than sporting excellence. He picked the teams for the 1972 and 1976 Olympics, and the presence of Anilus Joseph in the 10,000 metres at München confirmed this.

It was Joseph’s first race over the distance and he soon showed clear evidence of this. In the third heat, he set off as if it was an 800-metre race. He covered the first lap in 59.6 seconds and opened up a lead of 50 meters. He was still in first place after two laps but he then ran out of steam, and by the 1,000-metre mark was in last place. By the eighth lap, Joseph had been lapped by all the other athletes, and by the 12th had been lapped again. When the bell signalled the final lap for the leaders, Joseph thought that it meant that he too only had one more lap to go, so he began sprinting again, until he was informed by an official that even though all the other runners had finished, he still had over a kilometre to run. Disappointed, he dropped out of the race and thus ended a unique, if not bizarre, Olympic performance.

Personal Best: 10000 – unknown.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1972 Summer Olympics Athletics HAI Anilus Joseph
10,000 metres, Men (Olympic) AC h3 r1/2