Top five oldest USA medalists at Olympics

Published at :August 18, 2024 at 11:31 PM

Modified at :August 18, 2024 at 11:32 PM

The oldest US medallist at Olympics was aged 68!

When most people think about the Olympics, they picture young, super-fit athletes running fast, jumping high or lifting heavy weights. We see teenagers doing flips on the balance beam or twenty-somethings racing in the pool. But, did you know that some of the oldest Olympians were old enough to be grandparents? It’s true! These senior citizens showed everyone that you’re never too old to chase your dreams or compete at the highest level.

The Olympics have been around for a long time – the modern Games started way back in 1896. Over the years, the Games have changed a lot. Some sports that used to be in the Olympics aren’t anymore and the athletes have changed too. Today, most Olympians are in their twenties or early thirties. But, it wasn’t always like that.

In the early days of the Olympics, especially in certain sports, older folks could still compete with the best. These senior athletes might not have been the fastest or the strongest, but they had skills that came from years of practice.

Let’s take a closer look at five of the oldest athletes to ever compete at the Olympics for the USA:

5. Robert Williams- 63 years and 241 days

Robert Williams was 63 years and 241 days old when he competed in archery at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis. Can you imagine your grandpa picking up a bow and arrow and competing against the world’s best? That’s basically what Williams did!

Archery is a great sport for older athletes because it doesn’t require running or jumping. You need steady hands, good eyesight and lots of practice. Williams had been shooting arrows for decades and all that experience paid off when he got to compete in the Olympics.

4. Eliza Pollock- 63 years and 333 days

Eliza Pollock wasn’t just old for an Olympian – she was also one of the few women competing back then. At 63 years and 333 days, she didn’t just show up at the 1904 Games – she won medals!Imagine being a woman in 1904. Most people thought women shouldn’t even play sports, let alone compete in the Olympics. But, Pollock didn’t care what others thought. She picked up her bow, aimed carefully and shot her way into the history books.

Pollock won two bronze medals and one gold in the team event. She proved that older women could be champions too, paving the way for future generations of female athletes.

3. Galen Carter Spencer- 64 years and 2 days

Also at the 1904 Olympics, Galen Carter Spencer competed in archery at 64 years and 2 days old. Like Williams and Pollock, he showed that archery was a sport where older folks could really shine.

Spencer had probably been shooting arrows since he was a young man. All those years of practice helped him compete against archers who were young enough to be his children or even grandchildren.

2. Charles Jacobus- 64 years and 2 months

Never heard of it? Don’t worry – most people haven’t! Roque was only in the Olympics once, in 1904.Roque was a lot like croquet, a game you might play at a backyard party.

Players used mallets to hit balls through wire hoops. It might sound easy, but it took a lot of skill to be good at roque. Jacobus wasn’t just good – he was the best. He won the gold medal, becoming an Olympic champion at 64 years old!

1. Samuel Duvall- 68 years and 194 days

Samuel Duvall, a farmer and livestock buyer from Liberty, Indiana, made Olympic history in 1904. At 68-years-old, he became the oldest American to compete in the Olympic Games – a record that still stands today.Duvall wasn’t a newcomer to archery. He had been shooting arrows for years as part of the Cincinnati Archers Club. While he never won a national championship, he did have some success closer to home. Duvall was named Ohio champion twice – once in 1889 and again in 1890.

At the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, Duvall didn’t compete alone. He was part of a team event, where archers shot together to try and get the highest combined score. Duvall and his teammates did well – so well that they won the competition. This made Duvall not just the oldest American to compete in the Olympics, but also the oldest to win a medal.

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