He found a new horse, kept on believing in our training and discipline, and now he has succeeded. I am very happy for him. It also proves that new things are possible in dressage, at any age--even at 67!"

Although early records are a little sketchy it seems that Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn holds the record as the oldest competitor ever to win an Olympic gold medal. Swahn won at the London Games in 1908, at age 60. He was still sharp enough to take bronze again at the age of 72 in Antwerp 12 years later.

The oldest equestrian competitor is believed to have been British dressage rider Lorna Johnstone. She competed in three Olympic Games, including Munich in 1972 at age 70.

It was George Bernard Shaw who said "we don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing!"