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The oldest Olympians competing at Paris 2024

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The oldest Olympians competing at Paris 2024

Paris 2024 has brought together Olympic athletes of all ages, from the young to the young at heart.

All eyes were on 51-year-old British athlete Andy Macdonald on Wednesday, who made history as the oldest competitor in Olympic skateboarding. In a remarkable contrast of ages, Macdonald stands 35 years older than his 16-year-old teammate and double Olympic medallist, Sky Brown.

Sadly for the Team GB veteran, Macdonald finished 18th of 22 in the men’s park preliminaries on the Place de la Concorde in Paris and never remotely threatened the top eight needed to make the final. Macdonald, who began his professional skateboarding career 14 years before Team GB colleagues Sky Brown and Lola Tambling were born, had his every move cheered by the crowd – and there were boos for the judges when his modest scores – 72.07, 76.61, 77.66 – were announced, having pulled off a crowd-pleasing back-flip to finish.

Macdonald’s final act before his three runs was to shake hands with Keefer Wilson, the 17-year-old Australian who is a year younger than his son and three times younger than him.

Watch: Meet the 51-year-old Olympic skateboarder

Meanwhile, the title of the youngest athlete in Paris goes to 11-year-old Chinese skater Haohao Zheng. Not only is he the youngest competitor at Paris 2024, but he also holds the distinction of being the youngest ever Chinese Olympic athlete, adding an extra layer of significance to her participation.

Yahoo UK takes a look at the oldest Olympians competing at Paris 2024.

Spain's Juan Antonio Jimenez Cobo with horse Euclides Mor competes in the equestrian's dressage individual grand prix day 2 during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Chateau de Versailles, in Versailles, in the western outskirts of Paris, on July 31, 2024.

Spain’s Juan Antonio Jimenez. (AFP)

Juan Antonio Jimenez, a distinguished Spanish equestrian and Olympic medalist, continues to defy age barriers as he competes in the Paris 2024 Olympics, making him the oldest participant.

He clinched a silver medal in dressage at the Athens Olympics in 2024.

Sweden's Rolf-Goran Bengtsson with horse Zuccero HV competes in the equestrian's jumping team final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Chateau de Versailles, in Versailles, in the western outskirts of Paris, on August 2, 2024.Sweden's Rolf-Goran Bengtsson with horse Zuccero HV competes in the equestrian's jumping team final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Chateau de Versailles, in Versailles, in the western outskirts of Paris, on August 2, 2024.

Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson. (AFP)

Swedish show jumper Rolf-Göran Bengtsson has achieved great success in equestrian sports.

He secured a silver medal in the individual jumping event at the 2008 Summer Olympics and claimed a silver medal in the team jumping competition during the 2004 Olympics.

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 31: Xia Lian NI of Team Luxembourg reacts during the Women’s Singles Round of 32 between Yingsha Sun of Team People's Republic of China and Xia Lian NI of Team Luxembourg on day five of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at South Paris Arena on July 31, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 31: Xia Lian NI of Team Luxembourg reacts during the Women’s Singles Round of 32 between Yingsha Sun of Team People's Republic of China and Xia Lian NI of Team Luxembourg on day five of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at South Paris Arena on July 31, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Xia Lian NI of Team Luxembourg. (Getty)

Ni Xia Lian, representing Luxembourg, made history as the oldest table tennis player to claim a victory at the Olympics by defeating Turkey’s Sibel Altinkaya 4–2 at Paris 2024.

Originally from Shanghai, she currently resides with her husband in central Luxembourg.

VERSAILLES, FRANCE - AUGUST 01: Pius Schwizer and horse Vancouver De Lanlore of Team Switzerland compete in the Jumping Team Qualifier on day six of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Chateau de Versailles on August 01, 2024 in Versailles, France. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)VERSAILLES, FRANCE - AUGUST 01: Pius Schwizer and horse Vancouver De Lanlore of Team Switzerland compete in the Jumping Team Qualifier on day six of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Chateau de Versailles on August 01, 2024 in Versailles, France. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Pius Schwizer and horse Vancouver De Lanlore of Team Switzerland. (Getty)

Pius Schwizer is a Swiss equestrian competing in show jumping. His notable achievements include clinching the bronze medal in the team jumping event at the 2008 Olympics.

His win came after Norwegian rider Tony André Hansen was disqualified.

Paris , France - 6 August 2024; Mario Deslauriers of Team Canada riding Emerson in action during the Jumping Individual Final at the Château de Versailles during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)Paris , France - 6 August 2024; Mario Deslauriers of Team Canada riding Emerson in action during the Jumping Individual Final at the Château de Versailles during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Mario Deslauriers of Team Canada. (Getty)

Mario Deslauriers is a highly accomplished Canadian equestrian who competed in the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games. After an impressive hiatus of 33 years, he made a sensational return to the 2020 games.

His incredible journey continues as he sets his sights on the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he will be vying for victory in the Team Jumping Event.

AACHEN, GERMANY - JUNE 30: Steffen Peters of USA with Suppenkasper at the competion Grand Prix CDIO5 Evaluation for the Lambertz Nations Cup during the World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen 2022 on June 30, 2022 in Aachen, Germany. (Photo by Musall/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)AACHEN, GERMANY - JUNE 30: Steffen Peters of USA with Suppenkasper at the competion Grand Prix CDIO5 Evaluation for the Lambertz Nations Cup during the World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen 2022 on June 30, 2022 in Aachen, Germany. (Photo by Musall/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Steffen Peters of USA. (Getty)

German-born Steffen Peters is an equestrian who represents the US in dressage. His Olympic career spans five Games, and he secured two team bronze medals in 1996 and 2016 and a team silver medal in 2020.

Paris 2024 Olympics - Table Tennis - Women's Singles Preliminary Rnd - South Paris Arena 4, Paris, France - July 27, 2024. Zhiying Zeng of Chile in action with Mariana Sahakian of Lebanon during their preliminary round match. REUTERS/Kim Hong-JiParis 2024 Olympics - Table Tennis - Women's Singles Preliminary Rnd - South Paris Arena 4, Paris, France - July 27, 2024. Zhiying Zeng of Chile in action with Mariana Sahakian of Lebanon during their preliminary round match. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

Zhiying Zeng of Chile. (Reuters)

Zhiying Zeng is a table tennis player who was born in China but now represents Chile on the international stage.

She was originally part of the Chinese team before making the transition to compete for Chile.

Oscar Swahn 1912 Olympic gamesOscar Swahn 1912 Olympic games

Oscar Swahn at the Olympic games. (Alamy)

The oldest person to have competed in the Olympics is Oscar Swahn, who represented Sweden in shooting at the 1920 Summer Olympics.

Swahn was 72 years old when he won a silver medal in the running deer team event.

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