Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1990, 1 October marks the International Day of Older Persons – a day that is both dedicated to the appreciation of older people and to raising awareness about issues that affect the elderly.
To mark the the occasion we've put together ten of the most incredible “Oldest” records which feature in the new Guinness World Records 2016 book.
Oldest person ever (pictured above)
The greatest fully authenticated age to which any human has ever lived is 122 years 164 days by Jeanne Louise Calment (France). Born on 21 February 1875 to Nicolas (1837 - 1931) and Marguerite (neé Gilles 1838 - 1924), Jeanne died at a nursing home in Arles, southern France on 4 August 1997.
The oldest living woman is Susannah Mushatt Jones (USA, b. 6 July 1899), who is 115 years 363 days old as of 3 July 2015. The record was verified and presented just before Ms. Jones celebrated her 116th birthday.
The oldest person living (male) is Yasutaro Koide (Japan), born on 13 March 1903 in Tsuruga, Fukui, Japan, and aged 112 years 161 days as of 21 August 2015.
Oldest person to abseil
The oldest person to abseil is Doris Cicely Long MBE (UK, b. 18 May 1914) who aged 100 years, abseiled the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, UK, on 18 May 2014. Mrs Long abseiled from a height of 92.96 m (305 ft).
Oldest tandem parachute jump (male)
Armand Gendreau (Canada, b. 24 June 1913), made a tandem parachute jump above Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Québec, Canada, on 27 June 2014 at the age of 101 years 3 days. This was Gendreau's first ever parachute jump and was from an altitude of 4,114.81 m (13,500 ft).
Oldest active teacher
Father Geoffrey Schneider (Australia), born on 23 December 1912, retired from full-time teaching on 11 April 2014, aged 101 years 109 days. He concluded his 74-year career at St Aloysius’ College in Milsons Point, New South Wales, Australia, where he had been teaching Years 3 to 12 (ages 8 to 18).
The oldest competitive sprinter is Hidekichi Miyazaki (Japan, b. 22 September 1910), who was 105 years and one day old when he competed in the Kyoto Masters Athletics Autumn Competition in Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan, on 23 September 2015. Mr Miyazaki ran 100 m in 42.22 seconds.
Oldest best man
The oldest best man is Ronald Hornby (UK, b. 5 October 1917) who served as best man, aged 96 years and 89 days at the marriage of Isobel Coote and James Beattie (both UK) in Clogher, Northern Ireland, UK, on 2 January 2014.
Oldest coach at the football (soccer) FIFA World Cup
The oldest coach at the football (soccer) FIFA World Cup is Otto Rehhagel (Germany, b.9 August 1938) aged 71 years 317 days when he managed Greece in their final 2010 World Cup group game versus Argentina in Polokwane, South Africa, on 22 June 2010.
Oldest woman to climb Mount Kilimanjaro
The oldest woman to climb Mount Kilimanjaro is Esther Kafer (Switzerland, b. 23 April 1928), who reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, aged 84 years 161 days, on 1 October 2012. Esther made the voyage with her husband, Martin Kafer (who at 85 is also the record holder for the oldest man to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro).
