Olympic champion Charles Coste, penultimate torch bearer at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, died at the age of 101

The world's oldest Olympic champion, who won gold in track cycling in 1948, died Thursday.

In the Parisian rain, his appearance at the end of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games moved the whole world. Penultimate bearer of the Olympic flame, before passing the baton to the duo Teddy Riner – Marie-José Pérec, Charles Coste died Thursday, October 30, at the age of 101, franceinfo learned on Sunday, November 2 from the Minister of Sports, Marina Ferrari, confirming information from the Parisian. “It was with great emotion that I learned of the death of Charles Coste, Olympic champion in London in 1948, who relayed the flame for the Paris 2024 Games. At 101 years old, he leaves behind an immense sporting legacy,” the minister then reacted on her X account, welcoming this “model of perseverance”.

Born on February 8, 1924, Charles Coste was the oldest living world Olympic champion. This track cyclist had indeed obtained gold in the team pursuit at the London Olympics in 1948, beating the Italians in the final. “We received the medal in a box, they didn't give it around your neck at the time. Afterwards, they told us: 'Look, we can't find the disc of The Marseillaiseyou can go down‘“he told franceinfo in February 2024.

After this title acquired on the track alongside Pierre Adam, Serge Blusson and Fernand Decanali, Charles Coste became a professional road cyclist within the Peugeot team, competing in the Tour de France twice, and the Giro three times, notably winning the 1949 Grand Prix des Nations, a prestigious time trial event. Retired in 1959, and long forgotten in French history – to the point of only receiving the Legion of Honor in 2022, from the hands of Tony Estanguet – Charles Coste lived in the shadows for a long time despite this Olympic title.

Before returning to the light as the Paris 2024 Olympics approach, until this moment suspended in the Tuileries garden. In his wheelchair, Charles Coste waited, in the rain, for the Olympic flame at the end of the opening ceremony, before passing it on to Marie-José Pérec and Teddy Riner. Olympics which, according to him, were going “mark the Olympic era”he confided in August 2024 to franceinfo. “France has shown what is most beautiful. (…) The French discovered the Olympic Games because many did not know. (…) What I hope is that this enthusiasm continues in public life.”