Isaac Menyoli
Encyclopedia
Isaac Menyoli, born August 6, 1972, is a Cameroon
ian architect
and skier who was the first person to represent his country
at the Winter Olympic Games
when he took part in the 2002 Winter Olympics
in Salt Lake City. He competed in the men's classical 15 km race in cross-country skiing
, finishing 83rd and last with a time of 45:40.3. He also took part in the 1.5 km sprint, where he finished 67th out of 71, with a time of 4:10.07, just behind Philip Boit
of Kenya
.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation
reported that he had been "voted the day's best Olympian overnight", and described him as a Winter Olympics' version of Eric the Eel.
Menyoli's stated aim as a competitor was not to win a medal, but to attract media attention (as a Cameroonian skiier) so as to speak up, in front of a global audience, about the prevalence of AIDS
in his country, and specifically in his home town of Buea
. Menyoli explained that many people in Buea were not convinced of the threat posed by AIDS, and that he hoped to persuade them by being interviewed during an international event. "I want to ski for a reason. I want to tell people that they really have to watch out, that AIDS is serious."
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
ian architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and skier who was the first person to represent his country
Cameroon at the 2002 Winter Olympics
Cameroon competed in the Winter Olympic Games for the first time at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, United States. The country sent only one representative.- Cross-country skiing :...
at the Winter Olympic Games
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
when he took part in the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City. He competed in the men's classical 15 km race in cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
, finishing 83rd and last with a time of 45:40.3. He also took part in the 1.5 km sprint, where he finished 67th out of 71, with a time of 4:10.07, just behind Philip Boit
Philip Boit
Philip Kimely Boit is a cross-county skier and the first Kenyan to participate in the Winter Olympics. His first name is sometimes spelled as "Phillip"....
of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
reported that he had been "voted the day's best Olympian overnight", and described him as a Winter Olympics' version of Eric the Eel.
Menyoli's stated aim as a competitor was not to win a medal, but to attract media attention (as a Cameroonian skiier) so as to speak up, in front of a global audience, about the prevalence of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
in his country, and specifically in his home town of Buea
Buea
Buea is the capital of the Southwest Region of Cameroon. The town is located on the eastern slopes of Mount Cameroon and has a population of 90,088 . Buea was the colonial capital of the German Kamerun from 1901 to 1919,and the capital of the Southern Cameroons from 1949 until 1961...
. Menyoli explained that many people in Buea were not convinced of the threat posed by AIDS, and that he hoped to persuade them by being interviewed during an international event. "I want to ski for a reason. I want to tell people that they really have to watch out, that AIDS is serious."
External links
- "Isaac Menyoli: Man On a Mission", Jeff Chu, TimeTime (magazine)Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
, February 4, 2002 - "It's the taking part that counts", Duncan Mackay, The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, February 8, 2002 - "In Praise of the Lone Olympians", Amanda Bauer, Time, February 21, 2002