Oldest rider won't be competing at RIO 2016

The Japanese rider Hiroshi Hoketsu won't be able to compete at the Olympics in Rio this year. The man is 75 years old and that means that he would have been the oldest rider ever to compete in the Olympics. Unfortunately he wasn't able to qualify because his horse wasn't fit enough. Hoketsu says the health of his horse is his priority and therefore he won't be going to Rio.

The Japanese man already competed at three Olympic Games and two World Equestrian Games. He rode his mare Whisper 115 (Wolkenstein II) at the Olympics in Beijing and Londen. In 1964 he also rode at the Olympics of Tokio. He competed at the World Equestrian Games of Lexington and Aachen as well.

"I'm so sorry that I have to give up my Olympic dream, but I don't want to push my horse over his limits. I didn't decide anything for the future yet. For now, the most important thing is getting my horse healthy again", says Hiroshi Hoketsu.

If he did start at the Olympics, he would have been the oldest atlete ever to compete. At this moment, the Swedish Oscar Swahn holds the record. In 1920, he competed at the age of 72. In 1936, another 72-year old rider competed: the Australian Pongracz de Szent-Miklos. He rode his horse Ovar.