Vivian Laureen JOSEPH

Vivian Joseph began skating pairs with her brother, Ron Joseph, as children, and later they competed for the Broadmoor Skating Club in Colorado. In 1961 they became US Junior National Champions. Over the next few years, at the senior level, they improved each year at the US Nationals, placing third in 1962, second in 1963 and 1964, and finally winning in 1965, adding the North American title in 1965. The couple placed third at the 1963 World Championships, and second in 1965. At the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics, Vivian and Ron Joseph were originally placed fourth, but later received bronze medals in a controversy that has never been fully resolved.

Shortly after the Innsbruck Olympics, it was revealed that the German pair, Marika Kilius and Hans-Jürgen Bäumler, had signed a professional contract prior to the event. It was felt that the West German Olympic Committee, lobbying the IOC for the 1972 Olympic bid, wanted to present themselves in the best possible manner and encouraged the German skaters to return their medals. The IOC eventually ruled them “non-amateurs” and removed their medals, moving the Josephs up to the bronze medal position, and they did receive bronze medals. However, in 1987, the IOC returned silver medals to Kilius and Bäumler, which was in keeping with the ISU ruling as well, who had never disqualified the German pair. The Josephs kept their bronze medals.