Twin Magic

Speaking of ingenious ways to go around the law, people must give Madeline de Jess credit for coming up with a novel scheme to get around the law when she competed for Puerto Rico in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. To be honest, Madeline did have a disadvantage because her sister is a twin.

People now understand exactly what you are all thinking, and you are all correct. In the hopes that no one would notice, Madeline and Margaret pulled the old switcheroo. This is what transpired: Madeline injured her hamstring during the long jump competition, and she was scheduled to compete in the 4400 relay to advance to the finals less than a week later. Normally, the team would have had to forfeit because of this, but what if Margaret participated in her place? She was after all a track and field athlete.

Margaret successfully passed for her sister for a few days while residing and training at the Olympic village after Madeline handed her all of her credentials. The Puerto Rican team thus advanced to the finals on the big day. The sisters initially appeared to have fooled everyone, and they may have gotten away with it if it weren't for one astute journalist from Puerto Rico who discovered the whole scheme. A beauty mark on a cheek allowed him to distinguish between Madeline and Margaret.