Joseph, Ronald

Sport:
figure skating

Country Represented:
United States

Years Competed:
1964

Olympic Info:
Ronald and his sister Vivian Joseph, competed in the pairs figure skating event at the 1964 Winter Games. They finished in fourth place, but in 1966, the silver medal-winning German team of Hans-Jurgen Baumler and Marika Kilius were stripped of their medals after they were alleged to have signed a professional contract prior to the 1964 Olympics. The Josephs were then moved up to third place and awarded bronze medals. In 1987, however, the German duo was officially reinstated by the IOC and the original results were restored. The Josephs, who had held the bronze for over 20 years, were moved back to fourth place and the USOC does not officially recognize them as medalists.

Career Highlights:
Ronald and Vivian began skating together as children, competing for the Broadmoor Skating Club of Colorado. In 1957, they competed in their first important meet, the Midwest Skating Championship, and finished in second place. Following the tragic plane crash in 1961 that claimed the lives of the entire U.S. World Figure Skating Team (who were enroute to the World Championships), the Josephs were thrust into the spotlight and expected to carry American hopes in the early 1960s.

The 1961 U.S. Junior National Champions, the Josephs fulfilled these expectations, finishing in the top three in the U.S. Championships from 1962-1965 (third in 1962, second in 1963 and 1964, and capturing gold in 1965). They also won the North American Championships in 1965 and were impressive at three World Championships, finishing third in 1963, fourth in 1964, and second in 1965. Ronald, an excellent all-around athlete, attended Northwestern University on a track scholarship and placed third in the long jump at the 1964 Big Ten Championships.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. 1945

Origin:
unknown

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