Joseph Otterbeen

You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Dutch. (March 2024) Click [show] for important translation instructions. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing Dutch Wikipedia article at [[:nl:Joseph Otterbeen]]; see its history for attribution. You may also add the template {{Translated|nl|Joseph Otterbeen}} to the talk page. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation.

Joseph Otterbeen (5 October 1898 – 20 May 1978)^[1] was a Belgian athlete.^[2] He competed in the men's 3000 metres team race event at the 1920 Summer Olympics.^[3]

Otterbeen's talent was cultivated during World War I.^[4] At his first Provincial Championship 5000 metres, he beat the defending champion and Dutch record-holder Julien Van Campenhout by taking the lead from him after ten laps, finishing in 15:31 3⁄5. One week later, the two re-matched in Brussels. This time, Van Campenhout took the win, controversially finishing in 15:52 as he stepped on Otterbeen's heels twice to the jeers and booing of the crowd. An elderly gentleman accosted Van Campenhout for the heel-clipping after the race, and Van Campenhout insulted him. The following month, Henri Smets again stepped on Otterbeen's heel in the same place that Van Campenhout did. Despite this, Otterbeen won the race against Smets and Émile Rivez to the crowd's surprise.^[4]

Otterbeen was selected to compete individually at the 1924 Olympics, but during practice he fell in a pit created by sprinters for their training. Otterbeen sprained his foot, and despite making several attempts at a comeback his injury spread to his kneecap. After having to keep his leg in plaster for a month, he didn't continue with distance running.^[4]