February 08, 2008	Friday	Muharram 29, 1429

TOKYO, Feb 7: A 66-year-old equestrian rider is poised to become Japan’s oldest Olympic representative when he climbs in the saddle at this year’s Beijing Games.

Hiroshi Hoketsu, who turns 67 next month, last took part in an Olympics at the 1964 Tokyo Games where he finished 40th in the show jumping event.

At 67, Hoketsu would beat the previous record age for a Japanese Olympian set by fellow equestrian Kikuko Inoue, who was 63 when she rode at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

“It is more than likely Mr Hoketsu will take part in Beijing. He will be in the team dressage. He hasn’t been at an Olympics since 1964, which was 44 years ago, but he has continued riding all this time,” said Japan Equestrian Federation’s Azusa Kitano.

The oldest Olympian was Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn who won his sixth Olympic medal at the 1920 Antwerp Games at the age of 72 years and 280 days.

The youngest athlete to participate at the Olympics was Greek gymnast Dimitrios Loundras, who competed in the 1896 Athens Olympics. He was 10.—Reuters