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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Lucy Aplin

Tokyo 2020: How old do you have to be to compete in the Olympics?

The Olympics see the best sporting superstars from across the globe come together to showcase their phenomenal skill.

This year has been a great Olympics for inclusivity, with more women competing than ever before - making up 49% of the competitors.

With a range of nationalities, genders and ages competing - it can make for a diverse bunch.

But this year, we've seen a particular influx of teenagers representing the younger generations.

Sky Brown has taken a bronze medal for team GB - at only 13 years old - after qualifying at just 12.

But Sky isn't actually the youngest competitor at the Olympics this year

Who is the youngest Olympian?

Sky Brown has a bright future ahead of her first taste of Olympic medal success (Daily Mirror/Andy Stenning)

Hend Zaza is the youngest competitor of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at just 12 years old.

The Syrian table tennis prodigy is officially the youngest Olympian since 11-year-old figure skater Beatrice Hustiu competed in the Winter Olympics 1968.

The youngest Olympian on record was 10-year-old gymnast Dimitrios Loundras, who won Bronze at team event at the birth of the modern Olympic games all the way back in 1896.

How old do you have to be to compete in the Olympics?

People of any age can compete in the Olympics - the youngest ever competitor was 10 years old (AFP via Getty Images)

According to official rules, there is no set age limit on how old an Olympian can be.

However, each sport’s international regulatory body governs the rules of their respective sports, including age eligibility.

The oldest competitor involved in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is Mary Hanna, 66, who is taking part in her seventh Olympic games in dressage.

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