When we think of the Olympic Games we think of young fit and strong athletes. Those in the prime of their life and specimens of physical beauty.
It was Abraham Lincoln who famously said “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years,” and that is an appropriate sentiment for Olympian Oscar Swahn.
Few would have heard of Oscar let alone know what sport he competed in or that he won three Gold medals and appeared at three Olympic Games. Those who do know his name may be aware that he is the oldest Olympian to compete at the Games and the oldest Gold medallist. He won a silver medal in his last Olympic appearance in 1920 and that makes him the oldest Olympic medallist.
Oscar was 72 years and 279 days old when he won his last Olympic medal
He also qualified for the 1924 Olympics but withdrew due to illness without competing!
Oscar Swahn was born on 20 October 1847 in Götaland, Sweden.
HIs first Olympic appearance was at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. Here Oscar Swahn won two gold medals in the now no longer contested running deer, single shot events (individual and team). He also won a bronze medal in the running deer double shot individual event. He was 60 years old at the time and a year younger than Joshua Miller, who was at that time the oldest gold medalist.
Miller was also a shooter from Dublin who won his Gold medal in the Free rifle at 1000 yards.
In 1912 the Summer Olympics came to his native country, Sweden, and he was again a member of the single shot running deer team which again won the gold medal. He also won the bronze medal at the individual double shot running deer event, and came joint fourth in the individual single shot event. This was won by his son Alfred Swahn.
Oscar was 64 years and 258 days of age when he won his gold medal in Stockholm and he became the oldest gold medallist ever, a record he still holds, and one that is unlikely to be beaten.
The 1920 Summer Olympics were held in Antwerp and came after the end of World War 1, and eight years after the last Games. Incredibly Oscar was there again and he became the oldest athlete ever to compete in the Olympics at the age of 72. Not surprisingly at such an age he was not quite as on top of his sport as he had been. HIs best results came in teh team events. He came fourth in the single shot running deer event, and a second place in the double shot running deer contest. This silver medal, he became the oldest medallist of all time.
Some may dispute this as art competitions were held as part of the Olympic Games from 1912-1948. These covered Literature, Architecture, Music, Painting and Sculpture. Britain’s John Copley, won a silver medal in the 1948 engravings and etchings competition, he was 73 years of age, making him the oldest Olympic medallist in history; note he is not classified as an athlete.
Two people who medals in the Art Competitions and as athletes American Walter W. Winans who was also a shooter and the Hungarian Swimmer Alfréd Hajós.
While Oscar Swahn holds the overall record as the oldest Olympic competitor and medallist it is also important to remember the oldest woman to compete at an Olympic Games. Women were not exactly welcome for a long time. In Paris in 1900 there were only 22 women competing. BY the time the Games returned to Paris in 1924 there were 135 female athletes competing. It was only in 1928 that women were permitted to take part in Athletics and that was when the increase in participation numbers rose.
The oldest woman to compete at an Olympic Games was British equestrian rider Lorna Johnstone, who participated in equestrian event at the 1972 Olympic Games at the age of 70 years and 5 days old.
Lorna was born in York on the 4th September 1902. She was actually christened Hilda Lorna. Lorna was thirteen times a national champion in dressage and she would most likely have been selected for a place at the Olympics in London and Helsinki if women had been allowed to participiate
Like Oscar she competed in three Olympic Games in 1956, 1968 and 1972. Her best finish was 5th place in the 1968 Mixed Dressage Team event.
Not only is she the oldest female Olympian but she also holds the record for the second oldest female competitor ever, having been 66 years old when she competed in 1968.
Lorna continued to compete in dressage until past her eightieth birthday and was of the inaugural inductees of the Royal Horse Society Hall of Fame. She passed away in 1990 aged 87.
While Oscar passed away in 1927 seven years after his last Olympic appearance aged 79.
Both remarkable achievements that are unlikely to ever be matched.
