French cyclist Charles Coste, world's oldest living Olympian, dead at 101

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French cyclist Charles Coste, the oldest living Olympian and a 1948 gold medalist, has died, the International Olympic Committee confirmed Monday. He was 101.

"We have to say goodbye to an Olympic champion in cycling from London 1948 and the penultimate torchbearer at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Charles Coste," IOC President Kirsty Coventry said in a statement.

Torch bearer Charles Coste (center) passes the torch to French athlete Marie-José Pérec (right) and French judo practitioner Teddy Riner (second right) at the Gardens of the Tuileries during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

"At 101 years old, he was the oldest living Olympic champion. The image of him passing the Olympic flame to Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec in the rain of Paris during the Opening Ceremony of Paris 2024 went around the world. He will be remembered forever. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time."

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Coste, who was the second-to-last Olympian to light the Olympic flame at the 2024 Paris Games, died last Thursday, according to French President Emmanuel Macron’s office.

The statement said Coste was "until his final breath, the tireless messenger of a certain idea of sport."

Coste won gold at the 1948 Olympic Games in London in the team pursuit. Just a year earlier, he earned his first medal after winning the individual pursuit at the 1947 French amateur championships. Shortly after winning his Olympic medal, the French cyclist won bronze at the 1948 World Championships.

Charles Coste at the finish of the Grand