France’s 100-year-old Olympic champion participates in torch relay's final leg

The Olympic Games Paris 2024 swung wide open with an awe-inspiring opening ceremony on Friday 26 July. The City of Love showcased its love of art, culture and sport during the four-hour extravaganza, along with its affection for French sporting heroes.

The grand finale of the Olympic Torch Relay featured numerous international and French sporting icons, with many legendary hands guiding the Olympic Torch past the Musée du Louvre and though the Tuileries Garden towards the spectacular, aerial Olympic cauldron.

Fourteen-time French Open tennis winner Rafael Nadal, nine-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis, five-time Olympic champion Nadia Comaneci and four-time Olympic champion Serena Williams were among the international athletes called upon to carry the torch.

France was also well represented with four-time NBA champion Tony Parker, three-time Olympic champion Michael Guigou, two-time Olympic champion Clarisse Agbegnenou and Olympic champion Laure Manaudou carrying the torch.

However, it was the penultimate torchbearer who stole the show: Olympic champion Charles Coste.

The 100-year-old Coste gazed upon the Olympic Torch before offering its flame to the final torchbearers Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec.

It was a full-circle moment for the French Olympian, who was born a mere five months before the Olympic Games Paris 1924.

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