The 66-year-old equestrian rider selected for Japan's Olympic team is bemused by the fuss surrounding his record-breaking appearance in this year's Games.

"I heard the media in Japan are making a big deal of this," German-based Hiroshi Hoketsu said yesterday.

"To be honest I have absolutely no clue why. I'm not just going to the Olympics simply to take part. I'm planning to finish high up in the final placings."

Hoketsu, who turns 67 next month, took part in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics where he finished 40th in the show jumping event.

The oldest Olympian was Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn, who collected his sixth medal at the 1920 Antwerp Games aged 72 years and 280 days.

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