Who was the youngest and oldest participant in the Olympic Games

In 2021, millions of spectators admired the participant of the Summer Olympics, an artistic gymnast from Uzbekistan, Oksana Chusovitina. The 46-year-old athlete competed in the Olympics for the eighth time, competing on par with young gymnasts (and the age for this sport, unlike, for example, horse riding or sailing, is one great importance).

For the first time, Oksana took part in the Games almost 30 years ago – as part of the united team of the former Soviet republics. And in 2016 she entered the Guinness Book of Records as the only participant in seven Olympic Games in the world.

A story worthy of admiration made us think: who was the oldest participant in the Olympic Games? And the youngest? Let’s talk!

Oscar Swan is not only the oldest participant in the history of the Olympic Games. He is the oldest Olympic champion! The Swedish shooter took part in the Games for the first time at the age of 60: then in London in 1908, he won gold. Four years later, it was decided to repeat the success: at the home Olympics in Stockholm, 64-year-old Svan again took the top step of the podium.

However, that’s not all. In 1920, already 72 years old, Oscar returned to the Games. This time he won silver, but for many years he was awarded the title of oldest participant in the Games.

Why are there 5 rings in the emblem of the Olympic Games and what do they mean?

In 2021, at the Summer Olympics, many looked up to Syrian tennis player Hand Zaza, who was only 12 years old, and to get to the Games she needed to win the qualifying tournament. And she did – at the age of 11! – by beating the Lebanese Mariana Sahakyan, quadruple Olympic champion.

And yet, the record belongs to another athlete. Namely, the Greek gymnast Dimitrios Lundras.

He participated for the first time in the Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens: he was then only 10 years and 7 months old. Then the young athlete was able to win a bronze medal in team competitions.

As for the youngest Olympic champion, Kim Yun Mi, gold medalist in short track speed skating at the Lillehammer Games in 1994, is in the lead.

See also: Beijing Olympics: which of our skaters will take revenge for the failure of the gymnasts?

Photo: Getty Images, Legion-Media, Oleg Bouldakov/TASS Newsreel, Semen Meisterman, Niko Naumenkov