10 youngest Olympic medal winners

Dimitros Loundras Olympics — Loundras (C) was 10 when he won a team medal

Marjorie Gestring

1922-born springboard diver Marjorie Gestring competed in the Olympic Games of 1936 in Berlin, Germany at the age of 13. By then already a multiple-time National Award-winning springboard diver, American Gestring took part in the 3m springboard diving event, winning gold.

She was 13 years and 268 days old at the time of her win, making her the youngest ever person to win Olympic gold.

Gestring was due to participate in the Olympic Games in 1940, scheduled to take place in Tokyo, Japan, with the games cancelled with the outbreak of World War II; the United States Olympic Committee, in light of events, gave Gestring another gold medal.

After a short break, Gestring tried out for the 1948 Olympic squad but was unable to make the team.

Gestring set the age record 8 decades ago, a record that is yet to be broken; given tha the Olympic threshold age for athletes is now 14 years, her record looks to be secure.

She passed away in 1992 in California at the age of 69.

Edited by Staff Editor