Did you know:
Eighty is often considered the age of frailty but, with modern advances in medicine and education plus healthier lifestyles, many 80-year-olds are still spry and achieving great things. However, every generation has had its senior achievers.
For example, Cato learned Greek at 80 while, Sophocles wrote his grand Oedipus at more than 80.
More recently: American comedian, George Burns, was 80 when he won an Oscar in 1976 for The Sunshine Boys.
At 80, American jockey, Levi Burlingame broke the record for the oldest competitive rider when he rode his last race at Stafford, Kansas in 1932.
Long-living modern artist, Marc Chagall was 80 in 1967 when he created the sets and costumes for the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. His dream-like paintings of rooftop violinists, multi-coloured farm animals and floating brides were among the most original works of 20th century art. What’s more, Chagall was still active in his 90s.
Winston Churchill was also 80 when he resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1955. Four years later he fought and won another election.
