Ages of the youngest and oldest Olympic competitors

HIROSHI HOKETSU may have only come 40th in the Olympic showjumping in Tokyo in 1964, but his riding career was far from over. He returned to Olympic action in the dressage in Beijing four years ago, and now, at the age of 71, is the oldest competitor at the London games. Mr Hoketsu has already expressed an interest in riding in the next Olympics, though he fears his horse may be too old by then and is not convinced he could find a replacement. Clearly then age is no impediment to participation in equestrian events, as our chart below shows. We should also doff our caps to Ian Millar, a 65-year-old Canadian showjumper currently competing in his 10th Olympics. Only one "oldest competitor" has won a gold medal, though. This was 72-year-old shooter Oscar Swahn, who triumphed as part of Sweden's team in the single-shot running-deer event.