PARIS, France – The global sports community mourns the loss of Charles Coste, the world’s oldest former Olympic champion, who passed away at the age of 101. The announcement was made by French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari on Sunday. Coste, a celebrated track cyclist, clinched gold at the 1948 London Olympics and was honored as a torchbearer for the upcoming 2024 Paris Games. Ferrari expressed her grief, stating, ‘It was with great sorrow that I learned of the death of Charles Coste, Olympic champion in London. At 101 years old, he leaves a monumental sporting legacy.’ Coste’s journey in cycling was interrupted by World War II, but he returned to the sport post-war, securing a French national title in 1947 and Olympic gold in 1948. His victory in the team pursuit event saw France triumph over Britain in the semi-final and Italy in the final. Born on February 8, 1924, Coste became the oldest living Olympic champion following the passing of Hungarian gymnast Agnes Keleti in January. His death marks the end of an era in Olympic history.