Oldest Athlete in History: Robert Pitcairn
Canadian
fullbore shooter Robert Pitcairn was jubilant to learn that he will
debut at GC2018 as the oldest athlete in Commonwealth Games history.
Stepping onto the range on Monday 9 April with partner Nicole Rossignol, in the Queen's Prize Pairs finals 1 event, Pitcairn was aged 79 years and nine months.
The former air force cadet betters the record held by compatriot Doreen Flanders, who participated in the lawn bowls at Glasgow 2014 Games a few weeks after her 79th birthday.
"I feel honoured to set the new age record and grateful that my health and athleticism made it possible for me to be competitive in the Gold Coast Games," Pitcairn said.
Pitcairn, who was a commercial pilot, is well known for his heroic past; in 1974, he foiled a hijacker on a 737 he was flying with 120 passengers aboard.
Starting fullbore shooting in 1960, Pitcairn always aimed high but was not able to be a serious contender for the Commonwealth Games until his retirement in 1998.
Just missing a spot for Manchester 2002, the right handed shooter was determined to invest more time in training for the trials for GC2018.
At the last national trial competition, he shot flawlessly and grabbed one of two places for the Gold Coast, celebrating by replacing his 22-year-old shooting jacket with a brand new one in red and white.
"Fantastic," Pitcairn said. "I've had many successes in international shooting over the years but I consider qualifying for the Canadian fullbore team at Gold Coast 2018 the pinnacle of my long shooting career."
Pitcairn and Rossignol finished in eighth place in the pair's event with a score of 579-49. England's Parag Patel and David Luckman won gold, scoring 584-61 at the Belmont Shooting Centre.
Pitcairn will again take to the field on Wednesday 11 April for the single's event.
Stepping onto the range on Monday 9 April with partner Nicole Rossignol, in the Queen's Prize Pairs finals 1 event, Pitcairn was aged 79 years and nine months.
The former air force cadet betters the record held by compatriot Doreen Flanders, who participated in the lawn bowls at Glasgow 2014 Games a few weeks after her 79th birthday.
"I feel honoured to set the new age record and grateful that my health and athleticism made it possible for me to be competitive in the Gold Coast Games," Pitcairn said.
Pitcairn, who was a commercial pilot, is well known for his heroic past; in 1974, he foiled a hijacker on a 737 he was flying with 120 passengers aboard.
Starting fullbore shooting in 1960, Pitcairn always aimed high but was not able to be a serious contender for the Commonwealth Games until his retirement in 1998.
Just missing a spot for Manchester 2002, the right handed shooter was determined to invest more time in training for the trials for GC2018.
At the last national trial competition, he shot flawlessly and grabbed one of two places for the Gold Coast, celebrating by replacing his 22-year-old shooting jacket with a brand new one in red and white.
"Fantastic," Pitcairn said. "I've had many successes in international shooting over the years but I consider qualifying for the Canadian fullbore team at Gold Coast 2018 the pinnacle of my long shooting career."
Pitcairn and Rossignol finished in eighth place in the pair's event with a score of 579-49. England's Parag Patel and David Luckman won gold, scoring 584-61 at the Belmont Shooting Centre.
Pitcairn will again take to the field on Wednesday 11 April for the single's event.
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