Isaac Menyoli (born 6 August 1972Biography on the website of the International Ski Federation) is a Cameroonian architect and skier who was the first person to represent his country at the Winter Olympic Games when he took part in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He competed in the men's classical 10 km race in cross-country skiing,"Results - Salt Lake City (USA) Men's 10 km C", FIS, February 14, 2002 finishing 80th and last with a time of 45:40.3.Cross-country skiing results, BBC, February 24, 2008 He also took part in the 1.5 km sprint, where he finished 67th out of 71,"A few brave men", BBC, February 20, 2002 with a time of 4:10.07, just behind Philip Boit of Kenya.Cross-country skiing results, BBC, February 24, 2008. Menyoli finished ahead of Thailand's Prawat Nagvajara, Costa Rica's Arturo Kinch, Ireland's Paul O'Connor and Nepal's Jayaram Khadka.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that he had been "voted the day's best Olympian overnight", and described him as a Winter Olympics' version of Eric the Eel."Winter Games produces its versions of 'Eric the Eel'", Australian Broadcasting Corporation, February 15, 2002
Menyoli's stated aim as a competitor was not to win a medal, but to attract media attention (as a Cameroonian skier) so as to speak up, in front of a global audience, about the prevalence of AIDS in his country, and specifically in his home town of Buea."Isaac Menyoli Le sida aux J.O.", Jeune Afrique, February 11, 2002"Two Cool", CNN
Menyoli explained that many people in Buea were not convinced of the threat posed by AIDS and that he hoped to persuade them by being interviewed during an international event. "I want to ski for a reason. I want to tell people that they really have to watch out, that AIDS is serious.""Isaac Menyoli: Man On a Mission", Jeff Chu, Time, February 4, 2002
References
External links "Isaac Menyoli: Man On a Mission", Jeff Chu, Time, February 4, 2002 "It's the taking part that counts", Duncan Mackay, The Guardian, February 8, 2002 "In Praise of the Lone Olympians", Amanda Bauer, Time, February 21, 2002