Oldest Olympians is saddened to learn that American track and field athlete Greg Bell, born November 7, 1930, died January 25 at the age of 94. Bell represented his country in the long jump at the 1956 Melbourne Games, where he won the gold medal. In addition to several domestic titles, he also took silver in that event at the 1959 Pan American Games. He later worked as a dentist.

(Marjorie Jackson)

At the time of his death, Bell was the oldest living Olympic champion in track and field athletics. That distinction now goes to Marjorie Jackson of Australia, born September 13, 1931, who was already the oldest living Australian Olympic champion. Jackson represented her country in three track events at the 1952 Helsinki Games, winning gold in the 100 and 200 metres and placing fifth in the 4×100 metres relay. She also won seven gold medals at the British Empire Games in 1950 and 1954 and married Australian Olympic cyclist Peter Nelson. She later became involved in politics and was appointed governor of South Australia in 2001, serving until 2007.

(Max Bolkart)

Oldest Olympians is also saddened to learn that German ski jumper Franz Dengg, born December 1, 1928, who we profiled late last year, died October 7, a few weeks before we wrote about him. Dengg represented his country in the tournament at the 1952 Oslo Games, where he placed 31st. His career was relatively brief, and he retired from active competition in 1955. We believed him to be the oldest living Olympic ski jumper, a distinction that now goes to Max Bolkart, born July 29, 1932. Bolkart represented Germany at three consecutive editions of the Games – 1956 through 1964 – with a best finish of fourth in the large hill in 1956. He won the Four Hills tournament during the 1959-60 season, captured four West German titles, and later ran his family hotel, in addition to coaching at the youth level.

(Maria Golimowska)

Finally, in a previous post, we noted the death of Jane Ward, the oldest living Olympic volleyball player. The new titleholder is Maria Golimowska, born August 28, 1932, who was already the oldest living Polish Olympic medalist and Olympic medalist in volleyball. Golimowska represented her country in the tournament at the 1964 Tokyo Games, where she won a bronze medal. She also took bronze at the 1956 and 1962 World Championships and the 1958 European Championships, in addition to silver at the 1963 Europeans. Her international career lasted from 1955 through 1966, and she did not retire domestically until 1971.