In sports venues around the world, it is not only the stories of heroes and winners that are being written. But history also remembers the rogues who were so blinded by the vision of glory and success that they spat on the rules of fair play.
Fraud and cheats are as intrinsic to sport as a white foam cap is to a good beer. They were always here, they are still here, and they will certainly not disappear in the future. While there is not much we can write about future cheaters, there is plenty we can write about those who have cheated in the past. The following chapters feature ten athletes who are more famous for their scams than their performances.
Who would want to run a full marathon in his right mind, right? So why not ease up a bit and trim some of the mileage from the 42-kilometer portion? Cuban American Rosie Ruiz probably came up with something like that in 1980 and didn’t just have an idea but made it happen.
Starting the marathon on the streets of Boston, she nimbly slipped into the subway. She made her way to the finish line, standing among the spectators and waiting patiently. As her rivals approached, she dashed out of the crowd and was the first to cross the finish line in a great time.
Her win was short-lived. Cheating was discovered, and her name was erased from the results, and the victory was awarded to Canadian Jacquelin Gareau.
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