70-year-old Japanese qualifies for London Games

Japanese rider Hiroshi Hoketsu , the oldest competitor at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has won an individual dressage slot at the upcoming London Games when he will be 71, according to officials. [Photo/Agencies]

TOKYO - Japanese equestrian Hiroshi Hoketsu qualified for the London Olympics at age 70, although it's not yet clear if he will actually compete.

Hoketsu qualified by winning an international dressage meet in France on Thursday. Japanese equestrian officials said Sunday an announcement will be made soon on whether he will ride in London.

"To put it pompously, it was a miracle," Hoketsu, who turns 71 later this month, told the Sports Hochi daily. "Last summer, I thought it would be impossible to make London, so it fills me with deep emotions."

Hailed as the "hope of old men" at home, Hoketsu became Japan's oldest Olympian when he competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics at 67.

Before Hoketsu, the oldest Japanese Olympic athlete was equestrian rider Kikuko Inoue, who took part in the dressage in Seoul at 63.

Hoketsu rode his 15-year-old mare Whisper at the Beijing Games and finished ninth in team dressage and 35th in individual dressage. He also qualified for the 1988 Seoul Olympics but was unable to compete when his horse was quarantined.

Whisper, his mount since 2006, suffered a muscle injury after the world equestrian championships in September 2010 and needed nearly 10 months to recover.

Hoketsu, a former corporate executive, lived in Germany since retiring in 2003.

The oldest Olympian in history was Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn, who won a silver medal at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics at 72, his sixth medal in three games.