Olympics

[lankeela]

Tried to post this in sport but couldn't fathom out whats happened to that category.

Watching the young Indian boy who runs marathons made me wonder how young the youngest medal winner has been in the Olympics, and whether there is a lower age limit to compete.

[sddsddean]

The lower limit is now 16, so the record will never be broken.
Marjorie Gestring of USA won gold in the Springboard Diving event on 12th August 1936 aged 13 years 268 days.

[lankeela]

Thanks for the quick response. Probably never need to use the information but you never know.

[Fibonacci]

Youngest ever Gold medlaiist was 1936 Marjorie Gestring, of the United Sates, (13y 268d). who won a gold medal in Springboard diving at the 1936 Summer Olympics iheld in Berlin.
Probably the youngest medalist was Greek gymnast Dimitrios Loundras, a member of the Panhellenios Gymnastics Club. On the fourth day of competition (9 April 1896) at the Athens Olympics his team placed second in the Parallel Bars team event. He was 10 years 218 days old.
There is speculation that a young boy from Paris took part in the 1900 rowing event as a coxswain in the Dutch pair oars boat. Before the Final, it was considered that regular coxswain Hermanus Brockmann was, at 60kg, too heavy and was replaced by this boy, whose name or age has never been determined despite considerable efforts. He may have been as young as seven. Only a photograph exists, showing him with his two oarsmen Fran�oise Brandt and Roelof Klein. This decision evidently paid off, since the Dutch won the Gold medal. The question of which coxswain was handed the Gold medal has not been answered.

The only age limit for Olympic competitors are prescribed for health and safety reasons in the competition rules of certain International Federations, including bobsled (minimum of 14 years old), boxing (17-32), diving (minimum of 14), equestrian (16 or older), figure skating (15 by July of previous year), gymnastics (must be 16 years old in Olympic year), judo (15 or older), luge (16 or older), soccer (under 23), team handball (over 18), weightlifting (17 or older) and wrestling (must be at least 17 on day of Opening Ceremonies). There are no general restrictions among the International Federations on an "upper" age limit..

[mrs_overall]

I've just read in today's paper that the boy's coach has been arrested and charged with torture, after scars were found all over the child's body.

[lankeela]

Thanks for all your answers, seems there is more to it than you first realise.

[lankeela]

Yes mrs overall, thats what made me ask the question. The parents say the coach beat him and didn't pay them, the coach says the parents are only after money, but I can't believe they let him be taken away from them and exploited at such a young age. I know they live in a slum and are very poor, but to subject a child to this is terrible.