Dimitrion Yordanidis

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Dimitrion Yordanidis (born c. 1878) was a Greek runner, who, according to Guinness World Records, completed the 26-mile marathon course from Marathon, Greece to Athens on October 10, 1976 in 7 hrs 33 mins at age 98.[1] Guinness World Records considers him to be the oldest man to complete a marathon, and he is frequently referred to as such in media reports.

Yordanidis is unknown to the Association of Road Racing Statisticians who maintains a list of single age records[2] and currently lists Fauja Singh and Jenny Wood-Allen as the oldest male and female marathon record holders in the 90+ age group. Fauja Singh finished the Toronto Marathon 2003 in 5 hrs 40 mins at age 92 and Jenny Wood-Allen walked the London Marathon 2002 course in 11 hrs 34 mins at age 90.

Yordanidis is also absent from the records list maintained by the World Masters Athletics organization, which ratifies and registers five-year age-group records. The WMA list for marathon finishers contains no entries for the 95+ age group and above.[3]

Veteran marathon runner Werner Sonntag took part in the 1976 Marathon-Athens race and reports in his weekly column[4] that the German Spiridon sports magazine claimed at the time that Yordanidis cut the course by using a car.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Guinness World Records
  2. ^ World Single Age Records - Marathon.
  3. ^ WMA Age Group Records - Marathon.
  4. ^ Laufreport article (in German).
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