Arthur Gilbert

Arthur Gilbert (1921 – 23 October 2015) was an English triathlon competitor who came to notice in 2012 as the world's oldest triathlete.

Early life Gilbert was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire in 1921.

He was a veteran of World War II. He became a helicopter engineer at Westland Helicopters in Somerset and used to cycle the 20-mile journey to work.

Triathlon Gilbert began running competitively in the 1970s and first competed in a triathlon when he was 64 years old. He subsequently competed in over 40 multi-event races. His training regime included 50 lengths of his local swimming pool every day, 3 visits to the gym each week and 25 km on a bicycle on Sundays. In December 2011 the World Record Academy confirmed the 90-year-old was also the oldest triathlete in the world.

In May 2012 he was an Olympic torchbearer and jogged the 300-metre stretch through Minehead, Somerset. As a local celebrity, in July he opened a new care home, Kingfisher Lodge, in nearby Saltford.

Personal life Gilbert lived in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset.