Oldest Olympians is saddened to learn that Richard Schoon, born June 23, 1928, died January 11 at the age of 97. Schoon represented Singapore in the field hockey tournament at the 1956 Melbourne Games, where his nation was eliminated in the preliminary round and placed eighth overall. He retired from active competition in 1970 and later worked as an umpire and administrator.
(Lionel Chee, pictured at The Straits Times)
At the time of his death, Schoon was the oldest living Olympian to have represented Singapore and the oldest living Olympic field hockey player. The former distinction now goes to Lionel Chee, born August 4, 1931, who represented his country in the water polo tournament at the same Games, where Singapore placed 10th overall. The new titleholder in the latter category is Desmond Spackman, born January 4, 1929. Spackman represented Australia in the tournament at the same Games, as well as in 1960, and placed fifth and sixth respectively.
(Jean Rivière)
Finally, thanks to Connor Mah, we can confirm that one previous Olympic mystery is not the new titleholder for the oldest living Olympic field hockey player. Several years ago, we discussed Albert Piaget, born April 13, 1928, who we suspected had died in October 2009, but we could not prove it. We now know that this 1960 field hockey competitor did die in that month. In other field hockey updates, Mah also discovered that the 1928 French player that has been listed as Jacques Rivière was actually Jean Rivière, born January 4, 1908 and died August 19, 1988.