Hiroshi Hoketsu Explained

Hiroshi Hoketsu
Birth Date:28 March 1941
Nationality:Japanese

is a Japanese equestrian rider. His 44 years in between Olympics appearances is the longest ever [1] [2] [3]

Biography

He competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics, finishing 40th in show jumping. Hoketsu also qualified for the 1988 Summer Olympics, but was unable to compete when his horse was quarantined.

At the 2008 Summer Olympics on August 13, 2008, he finished 9th in the Dressage Team Grand Prix and 35th in the Dressage Individual Grand Prix.[4] In 2012, at the age of 70, Hoketsu won a berth for Japanese representation for the 2012 Summer Olympics in individual dressage and in competition of equestrian at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Individual dressage he finished 40th.

In his 70s, the 1968 graduate of Duke University is regarded as the "hope for old men".[5] [6] He was the oldest athlete in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. Hoketsu is the oldest Olympian to ever compete for Japan, and is the third oldest Olympian to compete ever, next to shooter Oscar Swahn of Sweden, who won a silver in the 1920 Summer Olympics and Arthur von Pongracz, who competed at age 72 in Dressage in 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.[7] [8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Los Angeles 1984 Olympian Leonel Martinez set to end 40-year wait for second Games appearance .
  2. Web site: 2024-04-12 . Paris Olympics will feature 2nd-longest gap for an athlete: 40 years between games . 2024-07-11 . wbir.com . en-US.
  3. Web site: Yes, of course. Here are the top in maximum gap between appearances: .
  4. Web site: Hiroshi Hoketsu Bio . . August 9, 2008 . September 17, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160917022902/http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=1013/bio/ . dead .
  5. Web site: Hiroshi Hoketsu . London2012.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120812230424/http://www.london2012.com/athlete/hoketsu-hiroshi-1026976/ . August 12, 2012 . mdy-all .
  6. Web site: Maybe Hiroshi Hoketsu, the oldest Olympian, is just horsing around . Los Angeles Times . August 3, 2012 . August 9, 2012.
  7. Web site: Oldest and Youngest Olympians (Summer Games). . Topendsports.com . July 16, 2014.
  8. Web site: BBC Sport . Preparing to compete at London 2012 Olympics at 70. March 7, 2012 . August 8, 2012.