Hiroshi Hoketsu, 70-Year-Old Man, Qualifies For London Olympics, Among Oldest Olympic Athletes Ever

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese equestrian Hiroshi Hoketsu qualified for the London Olympics at age 70, although it's not yet clear if he will actually compete.

The oldest Olympian in history is Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn. He won a silver medal at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics at 72, his sixth medal in three games.

Hoketsu qualified by winning an international dressage meet in France on Thursday. Japanese equestrian officials said Sunday an announcement will be made soon on whether he will ride in London. Hoketsu will turn 71 on March 28.

Hoketsu is based in Germany and become Japan's oldest Olympian when he competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics at 67.

In Beijing, Hoketsu finished ninth in the dressage team event and 35th in the individual competition. He also qualified for the 1988 Seoul Olympics but was unable to compete when his horse was quarantined.

Before Hoketsu, the oldest Japanese Olympic athlete was equestrian rider Kikuko Inoue, who took part in the dressage in Seoul at 63.

Comments

[sheaftosser]

07:13 AM on 03/06/2012

Is it really an ATHLETIC competition if a 70 year old can be one of the best in the world? Seems to me the horse is the athlete here; the rider is more like the coach of that athlete.

[roudy]

08:44 AM on 03/05/2012

Just do it.

[splenetic]

04:59 AM on 03/05/2012

There are Asians in Germany?!

[PaganDancer]

03:03 AM on 03/05/2012

Wonderful! May the best equestrian win! :)

[SiameseTrainer]

12:31 AM on 03/05/2012

Horses, Horses, Horses! When will the Olympic Committee recognize Siamese Dressage as a worthy sport. It is, after all, a "sport" which demonstrates the unity of man and "not man" and really, do they not know how much more difficult it is to train a Siamese? But I think it is wonderful that this great man understands the Zen of Horses.

[dejapooh]

12:27 PM on 03/05/2012

How do you get a saddle on it anyhow, That would strick me as something you might get away with on a cat once, but never twice... My cat, Tiffy, seems to have a policy of allowing me to try something once, but a second time depends on her experience the first time. She is Siamese, so I guess I have some experience in this. I remember the time I tried to hook her up to a milking machine. All went well until I powered up... WOW, talk about an angry cat! The cheese was well worth it.

[SiameseTrainer]

08:15 PM on 03/05/2012

Oh the saddle is the easy part, the hard part is getting the white lab rat into the riding tux.

[InfinteShibumi]

11:47 PM on 03/04/2012

Fantastic!

[tannerlb1]

11:28 PM on 03/04/2012

Hey! Good for him. Age know no bounds. Keep living fully at any age!!!

[psher]

09:48 PM on 03/04/2012

OK, this is a fantastic accomplishment, but how old is his horse?

[xUSAT]

09:45 PM on 03/04/2012

The closer I get to being his age, the more I like stories such as this. I hope his rides get television coverage.

[Devin Garner]

09:23 PM on 03/04/2012

He competed in wrestling in the inaugural olympics. Won his weight class.

[CANTHATBE]

08:58 PM on 03/04/2012

So at the Kentucky Derby the horse gets virtually all the praise but in the Olympics the horse is barely mentioned. Interesting.

[Brittany Lince]

03:54 AM on 03/05/2012

Said by someone who doesn't understand between equestrian dressage and jumping vs racing

[OneTop]

08:42 PM on 03/04/2012

Better check the teeth !

Seriously, congratulations that is quite an accomplishment.

[american-dolt]

08:39 PM on 03/04/2012

The Olympics are so watered down, it has become a bore.

[taoc 79]

09:39 PM on 03/04/2012

Equestrianism made its Summer Olympics debut at Paris in 1900, and has appeared at every Summer Games since 1912.

[american-dolt]

07:48 AM on 03/05/2012

Shows you what I know.

[splenetic]

04:57 AM on 03/05/2012

I'm glued to the TV during the ribbon (gymnastics) competition.

[rMatey]

08:17 PM on 03/04/2012

Psst. The horse really does all of the work.

[KathyA11]

09:09 PM on 03/04/2012

Try riding an extended trot and then come back and tell us how easy it is.

[ultracrepidarian]

10:11 PM on 03/04/2012

Especially if you are male.

[singdoula]

10:27 AM on 03/05/2012

Try getting your horse to do flying lead changes every stride at the canter in a straight line; slowly. Best of luck to you!

[jpfmtka]

04:23 PM on 03/06/2012

I had a the most wonderful TB back in the 70's who earned multiple west coast year end championships, from first year hunter, to A/O to Open Jumper. He was a happy, willing and talented guy and thought nothing of providing me two-tempes, down a line, on the wire.... no saddle, do bridle. He was amazing.

[CleoX3]

07:46 PM on 03/04/2012

Maybe it's not too late for me to pro-figure skate? This is promising actually. I'm happy to see this!

[SiameseTrainer]

12:17 AM on 03/05/2012

Will you be riding a horse? You sure don't look 70, except maybe....uh... never mind, sorry! ;>} !!

[M Cubed]

09:28 AM on 03/05/2012

The trick will be teaching the horse to ice skate.