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Oldest Olympian (Female)

Lorna Johnstone: The Oldest Woman Ever to Compete at the Olympics


Hilda Lorna Johnstone of Great Britain, the oldest woman ever to compete at the Olympic Games.

Hilda Lorna Johnstone, known as Lorna Johnstone, is the oldest woman ever to compete at the Olympic Games. She rode for Great Britain in dressage at the 1972 Munich Olympics, just days after turning 70.

Quick Facts

  • Born: 4 September 1902, York, England
  • Died: 18 May 1990, aged 87
  • Sport: Equestrian (dressage)
  • Olympic Games: 1956, 1968 and 1972
  • Record: Oldest female Olympian, and also Britain's oldest Olympian of any gender

A Long Career in the Saddle

Johnstone grew up in a wealthy Yorkshire family that was heavily involved in foxhunting, so she spent her childhood around horses. She became one of Britain's top dressage riders and won the national dressage championship thirteen times. She was awarded an MBE for her services to the sport.

Her Olympic Record

Her three Olympic appearances were spread over sixteen years:

  • 1956: Finished 21st in the individual dressage on Rosie Dream.
  • 1968 (Mexico City): Finished 13th individually and helped Great Britain to 5th place in the team event, riding El Guapo. This was her best Olympic result.
  • 1972 (Munich): Competed at 70 years old and finished 12th in the individual event.

She also holds the record for Britain's oldest Olympian overall. In 1968, at 66, she was already the second-oldest woman to have competed at the Games.

Why Her Story Matters

Dressage is unusual among Olympic sports because it rewards experience, a close bond with the horse, and quiet precision more than raw speed or strength. Women were only allowed to compete in Olympic dressage from 1952, yet by 1972 they made up most of the field, with 21 of 33 riders. Johnstone was part of that change, and she kept competing in dressage until after her 80th birthday.

As of 2026, her record as the oldest woman to compete at the Olympics is still unbroken, based on the sources below.

Sources: Olympedia | Guinness World Records | Wikipedia

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