Jocelyne Villeton

rdf:langString Jocelyne Villeton

rdf:langString Jocelyne Villeton

rdf:langString Jocelyne Villeton

rdf:langString Villeton in Rome in 1987.

rdf:langString Jocelyne Villeton (French pronunciation: ​[ʒɔslin viltɔ̃]; born September 17, 1954 in Vals-les-Bains, Ardèche) is a retired long-distance runner from France, who won the bronze medal in the marathon at the 1987 World Championships in Rome, Italy. Jocelyne Villeton only occasionally practiced athletics in her teens in the 1970s. Finding herself unemployed in the early 1980s, she decided to devote herself to distance running, driven by her husband. By 1984, she was French champion in the 10,000 meters and 25 kilometers on the road. In subsequent years, she gained new titles and performed strongly in the marathon. In 1987, when she had to find employment in the municipality of Saint-Étienne, she surprised everyone by winning the very first French medal at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics with a third place in the marathon. Until 1991, she ran at the highest European level. She now lives in Saint-Genest-Lerpt, and continues to run as a veteran. She is a Knight of the National Order of Merit in 2002 and a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 2008.