Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Boldin.
Think the chance for Olympic glory is behind you? You might be surprised by the ages of the oldest Olympians. There are at least a handful of Olympians in their 50s and 60s competing in Paris this year.
There will be around 10,500 athletes competing in 329 medal events at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games — and while the average age of the competitors in the mid-20s, there are a handful of older people going for gold (in spirit if not an actual podium spot).
While historically the oldest Olympic athletes have competed in equestrian and sailing competitions, the average ages are younger this year in these events. However, there are a few notable exceptions and some notably older athletes in other sports.
Mary Hanna, 69, and Other Equestrians
Dressage rider Mary Hanna, 69, of Australia is the oldest Olympian on a team in Paris, albeit as an alternate this year. This is her seventh Olympics.
Her debut was in Atlanta in 1996, but she missed competing in Beijing in 2008 due to an injury to her horse. Her best result was sixth place in team dressage in the 2000 Games in Sydney, her home turf.
Equestrian events are well represented by older athletes. Other riders in Paris who are over 50 include:
- Juan Antonio Jimenez Cobo, Spain: 65 years old
- Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, Sweden: 62 years old
- Jill Irving, Canada: 61 years old
- Pius Schwizer, Switzerland: 61 years old
- Mario Deslauriers, Canada: 59 years old
- Steffen Peters, Team USA: 59 years old
- Laura Kraut (pictured above), Team USA: 58 years old
- Carl Hester, Great Britain: 57 years old
Andy Macdonald, 50, Competing in … Skateboarding
Equestrian and sailing are events where it is not uncommon to find 50+-year-olds competing. However, skateboarding is barely practiced beyond the 10-year-old level, let alone in your 50s.
However, Andy Macdonald, representing Great Britain, is an exception. He became a professional skateboarder in 1994, is good friends with professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, and he owns the most X Games vert titles.
However, while competing at 50 and in the Olympic format is a bit of a stretch, he is going to have fun doing it.
And, his Olympic participation is not without precedent. In Tokyo, four years ago, two 46-year-olds — Dallas Oberholzer from South Africa and Rune Glifberg from Denmark — also managed to compete alongside the kids.
And, get this: Alexis Sablone, 34 years old at the time, placed fourth in the women’s street final.
Middle-Aged Athletes Make a Showing in Some Surprising Sports
There are a handful of athletes competing in surprisingly tough sports in their forties:
- Meghan Musnicki will be rowing for Team USA at age 41.
- Diana Taurasi (pictured above) is 42 and is part of USA’s women’s basketball team.
- Timo Boll of Germany is competing in table tennis at 43 years old.
- Malindi Elmore of Canada is 44 and hoping to be among the top 10 finishers in the Olympic marathon.
There’s Always Coaching … or the Senior Olympics
While there are not many athletes who are of retirement age competing in Paris, coaching is always a possibility for Olympic glory.
And, have you considered the Senior Olympics? The National Senior Games have been around since the 1980s and will probably increase in popularity as the ever active baby boomers reach retirement in droves.
The Senior Olympics are held every two years. The next competition will be in 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Individuals can compete in archery, badminton, bowling, corn hole, cycling, golf, pickle ball, power walk, race walk, racquetball, road race, shuffleboard, swimming, table tennis, tennis, track and field and triathlon.
Non-ambulatory competitions will be held in bowling, corn hole and shuffleboard.
And team contests include basketball, beach volleyball, soccer, softball, and volleyball.
The Oldest Olympic Athlete of All Time?
Japan’s Hiroshi Hoketsu tried to break the record for oldest Olympian ever at 80. However, he missed making Japan’s equestrian team for the Tokyo Olympics. (He made the team in 2016 at age 71, but he couldn’t compete due to his horse — not him — being ill.)
Currently, the oldest athlete to have ever competed in the Olympics is Oscar Swahn. The Swedish shooter was 72 years and 280 days old when he competed in the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, where he won a silver medal. He also qualified for the 1924 Olympics but withdrew without competing.
The oldest woman to ever compete is equestrian Lorna Johnstone. She has held the top spot for some time and competed in the 1972 games at age 70.
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