Oldest Olympic medallist (male)

Oscar Swahn (Sweden, 1847-1927) was 72 years 280 days old when he won a silver medal as a member of the men's 100 m running deer (double shots) shooting team at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium.

Swahn became the oldest Olympic gold medallist when, at 64 years 258 days old, his team won the men's 100 m running deer (single shot) shooting event at his home Games in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1912.

Swahn, who was born on 20 October 1847 in Tanum, Sweden, and died on 1 May 1927, also won two gold medals at the London 1908 Games (men's running deer (single shot) and men's team running deer (single shot)) and bronze medals at London 1908 (running deer (double shots)) and Stockholm 1912 (100 m running deer (double shots)).

In all team competitions that Swahn entered at the 1908, 1912 and 1920 Games, he was accompanied by his son Alfred, who won two gold medals, one silver and one bronze in individual events.

A more accurate description of the running deer event would be running target as they were not shooting at deer but a deer-shaped target with concentric circles!

At London 2012, equestrian Hiroshi Hoketsu (Japan, b. 28 March 1941) became the second oldest Olympian, behind Oscar Swahn, when he competed in the individual dressage on 2 August at the age of 71 years 127 days. Hoketsu holds the record for the longest time between Olympic appearances (Tokyo 1964 to Beijing 2008 - 44 years).