Joseph-Étienne Desmarteau (4 February 1873 – 29 October 1905)[2] was a Canadian athlete, winner of the weight throwing event at the 1904 Summer Olympics.

[3] Born in Boucherville, Quebec, Desmarteau was member of the Montréal Athletic Club[2][4] was one of the top competitors in the 56 lb (25.4 kg) weight throwing event, which is no longer an Olympic event.

[citation needed] To compete in the Olympics, Desmarteau, a fire officer in Montréal, had to ask for a leave of absence to go to St. Louis, but he was denied by his employer.

[5] Desmarteau received a hero's welcome back in Montréal and was rehired as a police officer.

[4] A district, a park and a sports arena in Montréal have been named after him; the Étienne Desmarteau Centre was used as a venue for basketball during the 1976 Summer Olympics.