Today on Oldest Olympians, we are finalizing our review of those Olympians who were last known living in 2014, which is down to six, as we solved one case in the interim. We also have two updates from earlier posts in this series. First, British track athlete Bob Shaw, born December 27, 1932, was still alive at the beginning of 2026. Meanwhile, Danish modern pentathlete Benny Schmidt, born June 25, 1929, was still alive at the beginning of 2025, but died later in the year, on June 6, at the age of 95.

To begin, we have Romanian cross-country skier Elena Zangor, born June 19, 1933. Zangor represented her country in the 3×5 kilometers relay at the 1956 Cortina d’Ampezzo Games, in which the Romanian team was disqualified. We were able to locate a lengthy interview with her from 2014, but since then have seen no updates.

(Mitsuyuki Funamizu, pictured at Getty Images)

Next we have Japanese fencer Mitsuyuki Funamizu, born September 7, 1933. Funamizu represented his country in six events across two editions of the Games, 1960 and 1964, and was a reserve in a seventh. He was a multiple national champion and we have evidence of his being alive in 2014, but nothing after that.

Then we have British track athlete John Metcalf, born February 25, 1934. Metcalf represented his country in the 400 metres hurdles at the 1960 Rome Games, and was also a reserve with the 4×400 metres relay. He also competed at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, but retired from sport in 1961. He was still alive and living in Richmond, North Yorkshire in 2014, but we have no further information beyond that.

We then have Irish equestrian Diana Willson, born March 12, 1934. Willson represented her country in the eventing tournament at the 1968 Mexico City Games, where she was 26^th individually. We know that she was alive and living in England as of 2014, and while we believe her to still be alive as of 2025, we have not been able to locate any concrete proof.

Second to last is French ski jumper Robert Rey, born March 25, 1934. Rey represented his country in the large hill at the 1960 Squaw Valley Games, where he placed 38^th. Rey and his older brother Régis, also an Olympic ski jumper, were photographed at an event in 2014, and while Régis has since died, we have not seen an update on Robert since that photo, although he is not listed in the French death index and thus is likely still alive.

Finally, we have Thai athlete Pongummart Ummarttayakul, born April 14, 1934. Ummarttayakul represented his country in two track events at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and was a reserve in a third. He was later a high-ranking figure in the Royal Thai Police, and was still alive in 2014, but we have not seen any updates since then.

That covers all of those Olympians who were last known living in 2014! We hope that you will join us next time for a new topic!

Today on Oldest Olympians we have three milestone birthdays to celebrate so, for the first time in 2026, we are going to cover them all instead of choosing between them!

First, Yehuda Gafni is turning 96 as the oldest living Israeli Olympian! Gafni represented his country in the basketball tournament at the 1952 Helsinki Games, where Israel was eliminated in the qualification round. He also competed at the 1953 European and 1954 World Championships, and won domestic league titles in 1954, 1955, and 1957. He then moved to the United States and now lives in Boca Raton, Florida.

Next, we are wishing José Julio Barillas a happy 94^th birthday as the oldest living Guatemalan Olympian! Barillas represented his country in the 100 and 200 metre dashes at the 1952 Helsinki Games, where he was eliminated in the first rounds of both events, and was also entered in the long jump, but did not start. By career he was a soccer player and physical education teacher, but later moved to New York and became active in the Guatemalan community while running a funeral home. He now resides in Ozone Park.

Additionally, we want to wish a happy 93^rd birthday to Héctor Román, the oldest living Puerto Rican Olympian! Román represented his country in the decathlon at the 1952 Helsinki Games, where he placed 20^th. He was also entered into the triple jump and the 4×400 metres relay, but did not start. He had more success at the Central American and Caribbean Games, winning silver in the pentathlon in both 1954 and 1959.

(Ben Nighthorse Campbell)

Finally, Oldest Olympians is saddened to learn that American judoka Ben Nighthorse Campbell, born April 13, 1933, died December 30 at the age of 92. Campbell represented his country in the open class tournament at the 1964 Tokyo Games, where he placed sixth. He had won gold in that even at the 1963 Pan American Games, and he later became a two-term United States senator from Colorado. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living Olympic judoka, a distinction now held by France’s André Bourreau, born December 3, 1934, who took part in the lightweight event at those same Games.