Between today and tomorrow, Oldest Olympians has four milestone birthdays that we want to share and celebrate. Rather than decide which to feature, and feature someone well after their birthday, we have decided to mention all four of them in a single blog post!
(Tattersall, pictured at Horizon Yacht Charters)
First, we want to wish a happy 94th birthday today to sailor Robin Tattersall! Tattersall represented the British Virgin Islands in two editions of the Soling class tournament, placing 21st in 1984 and 17th in 1992. He was the oldest sailing competitor at the latter Games and is now the oldest living survivor of that edition, in addition to being the oldest living competitor for his nation overall. By career he was a surgeon, working for the government until 1973, after which he founded his own clinic. During the 1950s, he had a career as a model and in 2001 he was awarded an OBE for his services to medicine. He has continued to sail and run marathons into his 80s.
Next, we are wishing Monegasque sport shooter Gilbert Scorsolio a happy 92nd birthday today! Scorsolio represented his country in the small-bore rifle three positions, 50 meters and prone, 50 meters events at the 1960 and 1968 Summer Olympics respectively, where he placed joint-61st and 85th respectively. By career, he was in the real estate business and he is now the oldest living Monegasque Olympian.
(Roger Lebranchu, pictured at the United States Press Agency)
Tomorrow, French rower Roger Lebranchu will be turning 102! Lebranchu represented France in the coxed eights at the 1948 London Olympics, where the French team finished last in its heats and did not take part in the repêchage. A former prisoner in the Buchenwald and Auschwitz Concentration Camps, he spent two years undertaking harsh physical labour before fleeing during an evacuation near the end of conflict. Earlier this year, he helped carry the Olympic torch as part of the relay in the lead up to the 2024 Paris Games, and he is now the oldest living rowing Olympian.
Finally, Leon Rotman will be turning 90 tomorrow as the oldest living Romanian Olympic champion! Rotman represented his country in three canoeing events across two editions of the Games and won medals in all of them. In 1956 he was a double Olympic champion in the C-1 1000 and C-1 10,000 competitions, while in 1960 he was a bronze medalist in the C-1 1000 tournament. Domestically, he won 14 national titles, and he later worked as a coach.