Durwand Knowles, left, next to Cecil Cook, with the gold medal obtained in Tokyo 1964. Photo: The Nassau Guardian

In November Durward Knowles (1917) will be a hundred years old. It is the oldest Olympic champion and the fourth most veteran Olympic champion in history since at almost 71 years old * he played in Seoul 88 his eighth Olympic Games, and also the oldest regatist who has competed in the sailing mode. His name is in a prominent place in the history of international sailing, especially in the Star class where for more than three decades he was only able to have won the world title (1947) and Olympic (1964) of the specialty until, in Sydney 2000, he was equated by the American Mike Reynolds twice the world champion (1995 and 2000).

In his first games, Knowles competed for Britain, as the Bahamas was part of the British colonial empire. A year after winning the world title with Sloan Farrington as a crew member, Knowles was a clear medal candidate in London 1948, but a disqualification in the sixth race relegated him to the fourth place by taking him away from a podium that seemed safe. Four years later, in Helsniki 1952 I finished fifth. The third was the winner, in Melborune 1956 it was its first success. With a great regularity, his worst result was a fifth, he achieved the bronze medal in closed struggle with Americans and Italians. In Rome 1960 he was again among the most competitive crews but had to be content with a sixth place. And since there is no bad fifth in Tokyo 1964, in the waters of Sagami Bay, he got together with Cecil Cooke a sound gold medal endorsed by three first places; one of them key in the sixth race in which he managed to change direction while the United States and Sweden Star, their two direct rivals, marched each other.

He was still able to achieve a third Olympic podium in Mexico 68 but a mast break left him with no possibility. At the age of 65 in Munich, 72, the time for his "Olympic retirement" seemed to come; they were his seventh Games and I finished thirteenth. Absence of Montreal and Moscow, the latter because of the boycott, Durward Knowles aspired to a final Olympic challenge for the 1984 Angels, but he achieved the square was Steve Kelly considered his "Olympic heir." It was precisely this who convinced him to form a team for Seul 1988 and that was how Knowles arrived at his eighth Games. Age does not forgive, the race field in Pusan created many complications and could only end up in place 19 of 22 participants.

From very young Durward Knowles learned from his father the secrets of the sea. It is one of the most admired and loved people in the Bahamas not only for their sporting achievements but also for their strong support for sport, especially in all matters relating to the disabled and for their numerous charitable activities. A person very committed to society, recently at 94, I participate in the campaign for the NO in the referendum against the authorization of web stores for the game and the creation of a national lottery, held last January * *.

It is also one of the main promoters of the "One Bahamas" Foundation, which, in 1992, together with the authorities of the country, with the slogan "Let us walk together" was launched to promote unity, loyalty, friendship and social harmony among all people living in the Bahamas regardless of their colour, creed or origin. Since 1964 he has had the title of Sire in recognition of his social commitment and Olympic gold. His biografia was published in 2011 with the suggestive title "Impulsed by the stars."

* Only over him, Swedish Swahn (Tyre / Antwerp 1920 at nearly 73 years old), Austrian rider Arthur von Pongracz, 72 years old (doma / Berlin 1936) and Japanese Hirosbhi Hoketsu who with 71 competed in London 2012 (doma)
* * He won the NO with + 60% of the votes

Text: Juan Manuel Surroco
http: / / elmargadordejmsurroca.blogspot.com
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