Unless we (re)discover a centenarian Olympic champion in a remote corner of the world, the oldest gold medalist is now French. Since the death on January 2 of former Hungarian gymnast Agnes Keleti, five-time Olympic champion in Helsinki and Melbourne, at the age of 103, Charles Coste is now the oldest Olympic champion still alive.
Until now the dean of French champions, he is now also at world level. The former cyclist will be 101 years old on February 8. Long forgotten, he was a gold medalist in the team pursuit in track cycling at the London Games in 1948. “I am not the oldest Olympic champion, but the happiest,” he said last August. This is the case now.
It was our newspaper that rescued the champion from oblivion in 2017 when the old gentleman just wanted what he was entitled to: simple recognition and the Legion of Honor granted to all French Olympic champions since 1952. Him was crowned four years too early. We had until then forgotten that he was, in his time, a great track rider.
“At the time, we didn’t put the medal around your neck”
“I was selected for the French team after my French pursuit champion titles in 1946 and 1947,” he said at the time. I could have turned pro, but it was too early. My goal was to compete in the Olympics. At the beginning of the year, we were supposed to go to Tokyo but the Japanese gave up and London agreed to organize the 1948 Games.”
He vividly remembered his exploits in the British capital. “When we knocked out the English in the semi-final, they didn’t expect it. And in the final, we beat the Italians. I still remember this lap of the track that I ran at full speed and which broke up their team. » His gold medal, which he keeps preciously, was given to him in a box. “At the time, they didn’t put it around your neck. »
Charles Coste received universal recognition on television and in front of billions of viewers on July 26, 2024. It was he who passed the flame to Marie-José Pérec and Teddy Riner so that his two distant Olympian descendants could light the cauldron .
“A month before the ceremony, Tony Estanguet called me and said: Prepare for a surprise for the ceremony. A car took me to the Louvre and there I learned that I would be the last to pass on the flame. I didn’t think I would receive such an honor. But I just knew that Laura Flessel would be the one to give it to me. »
“I was the Pope of Games”
The rest remained engraved as he told us at the end of August. “I was dressed in the colors of the Games and then, with all the other champions, we were put in a large room to watch the ceremony. Then at one point, we had to go to the Tuileries. The others went there on foot and I went in a popemobile. This transparent cart. I was the Pope of Games. At one point I heard Take away the umbrellas ! And I found myself in the rain. But in reality, I didn’t realize anything. And turning with the flame, I discovered Riner and Perec. And then seeing that flame rise is one of the most beautiful things of my long life. »
He ended the interview with a few words, always touching. “ “Usually, I go to bed around 9:30 p.m. There, I returned around 1 a.m. And I was afraid of getting sick from the rain. I got absolutely nothing. I must have good health (smile). When I think about all this, I can say it: I am not the oldest French Olympic champion, I am the happiest! I just didn’t want people to forget me too much, but I never thought I’d experience such a party. »
