The 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang are in full swing, and the first few days have been dominated by 17-year-old teenagers throwing it down in the halfpipe. On the other end of the age spectrum is Tomi Rantamaeki, a 49-year-old curler from Finland. Considering there are athletes around the age of Rantamaeki in events like hockey, speed skating, and bobsled, it made us wonder who are the oldest Olympians to ever participate in the games?
Can you believe the oldest Olympians ever reached the age of 72? Yes, 72!
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Let’s check out the oldest Olympians ever that proved to spectators and their countries that age really isn’t anything more than a number.
Oscar Swahn – 72 Years Old (and 281 Days)
Swahn has the honor of being the oldest Olympian ever when he competed in the 1920 games at the rip-old age of 72. He actually qualified at the age of 76 for the 1924 games, but withdrew without participating.
Arthur von Pongracz – 72 Years Old (and 49 Days)
Competiting in the 1924, 1928, and 1936 Summer Olympics, Pongracz competed for Austria as an equestrian rider and had a personal best fourth-place finish in 1936.
Hiroshi Hoketsu – 71 Years Old
Also participating in the equestrian event, Hoketsu became the oldest Japanese Olympic athlete when he competed in the 2012 games at the age of 71.
To put things into incredible perspective, Hoketsu first competed in the Olympics in 1964.
Lorna Johnstone – 70 Years Old
The oldest female ever to compete in the Olympics, Johnstone’s first games were in 1956 at the age of 53.
Louis, Count du Douet de Graville – 69 Years Old
Not only is the Frenchman a candidate for the best name in Olympic history, but also he competed in the equestrian event at the age of 69 in the 1900 Olympics.
Ian Millar – 65 Years Old
Amazingly, Millar represented Canada in every summer Olympics from 1972 to 2012 in the equestrian jumping event, making him the first athletes to take part in 10 Olympic Games.
*John Copley – 73 Years Old
Why is there an asterisk next to Copley’s name despite competing in the 1948 Summer Olympics in Great Britain at the age of 73? That’s because he participated in the event Mixed Painting, Engravings, and Etchings.
Yes, art competitions used to be a part of the games, but were long ago dropped as an event.
