THE world’s oldest Olympian has died at the age of 101.
French icon Charles Coste won Olympic gold in 1948 at the London Summer Games in cycling.
He won in the team pursuit at the Herne Hill velodrome.
Coste became the oldest living Olympic champion in January after the death of gymnast Agnes Keleti.
His sad death was confirmed in a statement from the office of French President Emmanuel Macron.
Cost passed away on October 31 and was “until his final breath, the tireless messenger of a certain idea of sport.”
A statement continued: “The President of the Republic and his wife pay tribute to the memory of this champion who left his mark on the history of his sport and of the nation.
“They extend their heartfelt condolences to his loved ones and to all cycling enthusiasts.”
Coste was well remembered in his homeland as he was involved in the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Dressed all in white and in a wheelchair, he lit the torches of the Olympic stars Teddy Riner and Marie-Jose Perec.
The pair of them teamed together to light the cauldron despite the heavy rainfall.
Riner said: “That moment symbolised the passion and spirit of transmission that drove him.
“Charles Coste embodied dedication, respect, and love for sport in all its forms.”
Coste grew up in Toulon, France, and started his cycling love affair on a wooden tricycle as a child.
He showed tremendous promise on the saddle and won the amateur pursuit in 1947.
He followed this success with a bronze medal at the World Championships in 1948.
Coste won the Olympic gold medal alongside team-mates Pierre Adam, Serge Blusson and Fernand Decanali.
They won by almost 39 seconds against Italy, which remains the largest margin of victory in the history of the event.
Following victory in London, Coste went pro with the Peugeot team and continued to win.
He earned victories at the Grand Prix des Nations in 1949 as he beat Italian icon Fausto Coppi.
Coste retired in 1959 and went on to have a career as a sales inspector for La Blanchisserie de Grenelle – a commercial laundry service in Paris.