Ever since the International Olympic Committee was formed in 1894 and the first Modern Olympic Games which made the Olympics an international event was held at Athens in 1986, individuals of varying ages, sex, and game specialty have participated in the Olympic Games. This post will examine the nine youngest Olympians in the history of the Modern Olympic Games.
DIMITRIOS LOUNDRAS – 10 YEARS OLD
At the age of 10, Dimitrios Loundras participated in the Athens 1896 Olympics This was the maiden edition of the modern Olympic Games and won a Bronze medal in Gymnastics.
ITALIAN GYMNAST – 11 TO 12 YEARS OLD
In the 1928 Olympic Games, Italy was represented in gymnastics by three very young athletes. The trio are Luigina Giavotti (11 years old), Ines Vercesi (12 years old) and Carla Marangoni (12 years old) respectively.
CECILIA COLLEDGE – 11 YEARS OLD
In the Lake Placid Games of 1932, Colledge represented Team Great Britain in the ladies figure skating event where she finished 8th. She later won silver in 1936 in the same Olympic event.
INGE SØRENSEN – 12 YEARS OLD
Inge Sorensen is the youngest female athlete to win a medal in a swimming event in the Olympics. She achieved this feat when she won bronze in 1936 during the 200-meter breaststroke. She later won gold in the same event at the following Olympic Games.
MARJORIE GESTRING – 13 YEARS OLD
Marjorie Gestring won gold in the Women’s diving event in the 1936 games. She was stopped from participating in later games as the games didn’t hold in 1940 and 1944 due to the Second World War.
ALAIN GILETTI – 12 YEARS OLD
In the 1952 Winter Games, Alain Giletti competed in Figure skating and he was the youngest male athlete of the year.
DONNA ELIZABETH DE VARONA – 13 YEARS OLD
Donna Elizabeth De Verona won a Gold medal for team U.S in the 4X100 meter freestyle relay during the qualifying rounds 1960. She later won Gold in the Women’s 400-meter individual medley during the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games.
