John Whittemore
Encyclopedia
John Whittemore of Montecito
, California
, has been credited as being the "world's oldest athlete". A long time Masters Track
athlete, his last competition was on October 5, 2004, just six weeks before his 105th birthday. He threw the javelin and discus on that occasion. Whittemore said of his unique position in the athletic world "If I don't drop it on my foot, I set a world record." Had he competed after his birthday it would have necessitated a new age division in a sport divided by five-year age groups, a situation Whittemore continued to train for. When Whittemore threw the shot put, earlier in March, (at age 104 years, 4 months), it was covered on Good Morning America
on March 29, 2004.
The only other reported instance of a 104-year-old participating in athletic events was skier Herman Smith-Johannsen, reported in 1979 and that was not in an organized event. The current active claimant to the title is 100-year-old Australian Ruth Firth, who competed in throwing events at the 2009 World Masters Games
in Sydney
. Everett Hosack, who Jay Leno
announced as the "world's oldest athlete" at the time, famously participated in the Penn Relays
and USATF National Indoor Championships at age 101.
Whittemore attended Santa Barbara High School
, where he was a long and triple jumper, and graduated in 1917. He often described riding to high school on horseback. Later he attended Stanford University
, where he played baseball
and was an outstanding tennis player. He spent several decades competing for the Club West Track Club, which named an annual award for him.
Montecito
Montecito may refer to:*Montecito, California, a census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California* Montecito , the codename used to designate a revision of the Intel Itanium 2 processor...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, has been credited as being the "world's oldest athlete". A long time Masters Track
Masters athletics (track and field)
Masters athletics is a class of the sport of athletics for veteran athletes in the events of track and field, road running and cross country running. The competitions feature five-year age groups beginning at age 35. Men as old as 104 and women in their 100s have competed in running, jumping and...
athlete, his last competition was on October 5, 2004, just six weeks before his 105th birthday. He threw the javelin and discus on that occasion. Whittemore said of his unique position in the athletic world "If I don't drop it on my foot, I set a world record." Had he competed after his birthday it would have necessitated a new age division in a sport divided by five-year age groups, a situation Whittemore continued to train for. When Whittemore threw the shot put, earlier in March, (at age 104 years, 4 months), it was covered on Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
on March 29, 2004.
The only other reported instance of a 104-year-old participating in athletic events was skier Herman Smith-Johannsen, reported in 1979 and that was not in an organized event. The current active claimant to the title is 100-year-old Australian Ruth Firth, who competed in throwing events at the 2009 World Masters Games
World Masters Games
The World Masters Games is an international multi-sport event held every four years which, in terms of competitor numbers, has developed into the largest of its kind....
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. Everett Hosack, who Jay Leno
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
announced as the "world's oldest athlete" at the time, famously participated in the Penn Relays
Penn Relays
The Penn Relays is the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States, hosted annually since April 21, 1895 by the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
and USATF National Indoor Championships at age 101.
Whittemore attended Santa Barbara High School
Santa Barbara High School
Santa Barbara High School, "Home of the Dons," is situated on a beautiful campus in, Santa Barbara, California and is part of the Santa Barbara School Districts. One of the oldest high schools in California, it was established in 1875, and moved to its current site in 1924...
, where he was a long and triple jumper, and graduated in 1917. He often described riding to high school on horseback. Later he attended Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, where he played baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and was an outstanding tennis player. He spent several decades competing for the Club West Track Club, which named an annual award for him.