BOIS-COLOMBES, France, Feb 2, 2024 (BSS/AFP) – When the Olympic torch relay gets underway in France in May keep an eye open for Charles Coste, France’s oldest living Olympic champion.
Coste, who will turn 100 on February 8, pedalled his way to glory in the men’s team cycling pursuit 76 years ago in the 1948 Olympics in London. He has bad knees these days but is hoping to do his bit for Paris 2024.
“It will be unforgettable and I’m very proud,” Coste told AFP.
“Now I have to prepare myself physically. I’m handicapped by my knees but I’m going to try to carry the flame for a few metres.”
Coste also plans to watch the cycling in Paris but if that still lies some months in the future, London ’48 remains clearly imprinted on his memory.
“They weren’t the grandiose Games of today,” says Coste, who is some way from being the oldest living Olympic champion.
That honour currently rests with Hungarian gymnast Agnes Keleti who turned 103 on January 9
“There were hardly any radios. We only arrived three days before our event.
“England was still traumatised by the war. London had been badly bombed and we were billeted in a US Air Force training camp. There was no Olympic village. Each discipline was housed separately so we didn’t mix much with the other athletes.”
Coste was 23 at the time and, as France’s pursuit champion of 1947, was appointed captain of the team that included Serge Blusson, Pierre Adam and Fernand Decanali, none of whom remains to accompany Coste on the torch relay.
Cost proud to carry Olympic torch 76 years after winning gold bosums France February 2nd 2024 BSS AFP when the Olympic torch relay gets underway in France in may keep an eye open for Charles cost France’s oldest living Olympic champion cost who will turn 100 on February 8th pedal his way to glory
In the men’s team cycling Pursuit 76 years ago in the 194 8 Olympics in London he has bad KNE these days but is hoping to do his bit for Paris 2024 it will be Unforgettable and I’m very proud cost told AFP now I have to prepare myself physically I’m handicapped by my knees
But I’m going to try to carry the flame for a few meters cost also plans to watch the cycling in Paris but if that’s still lies some months in the future London 48 remains clearly imprinted on his memory they weren’t the grandio games of today says cost who is some way
From being the oldest living Olympic champion that honor currently rests with Hungarian gymnast Agnes kti who turned 103 on January 9th there were hardly any radios we only arrived 3 days before our event England was still traumatized by the war London had been badly bombed and
We were bed in a US Air Force training camp there was no Olympic Village each discipline was housed separately so we didn’t mix much with the other athletes cost was 23 at the time and as France’s Pursuit champion of 1947 was appointed captain of the team that included Serge Blen Pierre Adam and
Fernand deali none of whom remains to accompany cost on the torch relay crowning Glory we raced several times on the London track to get to know it well said cost I was with my mate Blen Adam and deari we made up a very strong close-knit team first we had to beat the
English who were the favorites in front of their home crowd then in the final I got off to a bit of a slow start but we picked up our speed after that and the Italians finally gave up when we got the medal it was the crowning Glory it was
Our dream and we just made it come true my mother used to say that when I was 10 or 12 I would tell her I would be a general or an Olympic champion the cyclists were awarded their medals in a box not around your neck like today and
A bouquet of flowers but organizational problems at the heill vome meant there was the disappointment of not having an Anthem there won’t be a marceles they said because we can’t find the record says cost two years ago cost finally got his marceles when he was rather belatedly given the legion
DEA I would have liked General deal to have given it to me in 1952 but no one thought of me at the time says cost who went professional a year later going on to compete twice in the tour to France and win the 1949 Grand Prix destinations
Time trial as I was the only Olympic champion who didn’t have the medal it was given to me in 2022 and I chose Tony a Stang to do it I’m very grateful to him he gave me a beautiful marceles it was a great honor for me
Tonia Stang and I have become friends we write to each other and he calls me from time to time one of those calls from AIT chief of the Paris games organizing committee was the invitation to carry the torch and pass it onto a new generation of Olympians
1 Comment
❤❤❤❤ we are proud to see a living legend 🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺