The New York herald., 1921-02-24
GUILLEMOT NOT TO
RACE HERE AGAIN
French Runner Has Complete
Fracture of One of the Bones
of Right Foot.

Corporal Josef Guillemot, the French
long distance runner and Olympic cham
pion for 5000 meters. Is not going to run
again in this country. but Will sail for
home as soon as he can move about
comfortably. That piece of news. with
further information about the real con-
dition Of the Frenchman's injured foot.
was supplied yesterday by the Guaranty
Club. 1t was stated that an X-ray taken
of the injured part of the right foot on
Monday disclosed a fracture of one OF
the bones. caused by the pounding on
the board floor on Saturday night. and.
furthermore, that the injured part had
suffered some previous laceration which
was aggravated by the practice spins
taken on the Columbia University track.
1t was also stated that an X-ray of the
foot had been made on Wednesday Of
last week and that the foot was then
found to be injured and that three bone
specialists had been called In to try
hasty remedy SO that Guillemot might
not disappoint the public on Saturday
night last
No mention had been made last week
about an X-ray. but 1t was said that
Guillemot suffered from a stone bruise
between the joints Of the fourth and
familiarly known as a "beinlock." and
every athlete who ever experienced one
knows that the mishap to the foot Is
one of the sorest things going and or
dinarily takes from two to three weeks
to heal. The medical treatment by those
versed In the healing Of a stone bruise
was to rest the foot until the brutse
festered and ripened and then lance 1t
or "let" 1t with a very fine needle. A
poultice of bread and water or sugar
and soap followed to draw out the re-
naming Inflammation. after which the
sore healed rapidly. This was not done,
according to the reports about Guile
mot, but instead the bruise was ban
daged up and some embrocation applied
to the injured part. It Is q miracle that
some common sense handler OF athletes
did not happen along Guillemot's Way
and help him In his hour OF misfortune.
Nobody doubts the Frenchman's abil-
ity to run a great race at anywhere
from two to ten miles. and the big ma
jority were sorry to see him make such
a poor showing against his opponents
after he had made such a long journey
to show the American public what he
could do. What should have been done
with Guillemot was to allow him TO run
a lap and then gracefully retire off the
floor. Still he ran we'll In the early
stage Of the race, but he cut sorry
spectacle toward the finish. Following
Is the explanation Of the race offered by
]. S. Johnston. chairman of the Guar
anty Club athletic committee.
"In justice to the Guaranty Club and
to Corporal Josef Guillemot wish to
give you the following facts:
when Guillemot landed here he was
apparently In tiptop condition, and his
first workout at Columbia confirmed that
impression. The second day at Columbia
he developed a sore foot, which, for the
protection of the Guaranty Club and the
general public, we insisted on having
x-rayed. This was done on Wednesday
of last week, and the picture disclosed
an old injury which the two days rum
ming on the boards had apparently ag-
gravated. The club had the services Of
three of the best bone specialists In the
city on the case, and II was their opinion
that with few days rest and proper
treatment the soreness would entirely
disappear and he would be in good
shape to compete on Saturday night.
The doctors visited him every day, and
one of them made a final examination
before he went on the floor Saturday
night.
1--WE insisted with Guillemot right
along that he should not compete If the
foot panied him or IL there was any
danger Of permanent injury. He stated
to the writer before the race that the
/ pain had practically all disappeared and
| he would be o. X. His warm up before
the race apparently supported his state
| ment. AS you no doubt know, he pulled
| up lame after the race and the foot was
very sore Saturday night.
"On Sunday 1t started to swell. and
on Monday the club officials decided on
second X-ray. The second picture dis
closed a complete fracture of one of the
bones Of the right foot. which was due
entirely to the pounding received In
running the race on Saturday. The doc
tors state that 1t will be at least one
month before he will be able even
to walk. and he cannot consider COM
peting again for at least three months.
He will. therefore, not compete again in
this country on this trip, but will sail
! for France within the next few weeks
or as soon as he is able to move about.
''In view Of the above 1t Is apparent
that Guillemot ran the last half OF the
race on his nerve and grit alone. as this
fracture must have occurred along about
the middle of the race, when he started
to lose hold and drift back"
/