French cyclist Charles Coste, who had been the world's oldest living Olympic gold medallist, has died aged 101.
Coste, who won Olympic gold in track cycling's team pursuit alongside Pierre Adam, Serge Blusson, and Fernand Decanali in 1948, died on Thursday.
French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari confirmed his death on Monday, calling it a great loss for France.
"It is with great sorrow that I learned of the death of Charles Coste, Olympic champion in London. At 101 years old, he leaves behind an immense sporting legacy," she said in a post on X.
He had been the world's oldest living Olympic gold medallist after the death of Hungarian artistic gymnast Agnes Keleti at the age of 103 in January.
Coste got another chance to shine as one of the torchbearers during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
"It was with great emotion and pride that I passed the torch to two great Olympic champions, Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec," he told Olympics.com during a visit earlier this year.
His record also includes the 1949 Grand Prix des Nations, a 140-kilometre time trial in which he beat Italian Fausto Coppi, a Tour de France and Giro d'Italia champion.
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