Do you remember Aida Gemanaque, who secured the World Record for being the oldest person ever to skydive at the age of 103? She showed that age is just a number and it doesn’t matter to do anything special. Gemanaque is lovingly known as Grandma Iaia.
The ‘extreme granny’ is again in the news for some good reason. Now she has become the oldest person ever to run with the Olympic Torch. Gemanaque broke the record held by Alexander Kaptarenko, who participated in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Torch Relay at the age of 101.
Gemanaque carried the Rio 2016 Olympic Torch in Macapa in Brazil where she lighted the celebratory cauldron. “I am overjoyed. I have to be grateful for this joy, which I never expected in my life. I am immensely proud,” she said after finishing her run.
The practice of relaying the Olympic Flame from Greece to the Olympic Venue began in 1936 and comprises the relay of the Olympic torch by eminent personalities in the field of sports.
The 95-day torch relay will pass through 325 Brazilian cities and ends at Rio’s Maracana Stadium for the lighting of the Olympic cauldron on August 5.