The oldest person to have lived was French-born Jeanne Calment who died in 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days. However, Japanese Kane Tanaka came a close second, having passed away on 19 April this year at the age of 119 years.
Kane Tanaka
According to Guinness World Records, they declared Japanese Kane Tanaka as the oldest living person in January 2019 at the age of 116 years and 28 days.
Tanaka was born in 1903 in the southwestern Fukuoka region of Japan. At the age of 19, she married a rice shop owner and worked in her family shop until the age of 103.
Having lived between the years 1903 and 2022 means that Kane Tanaka survived many historical world events, such as both world wars, the Spanish flu and Covid-19.
To put it even more into perspective, Tanaka was born the same year the Wright brothers flew their first plane and died after the creation of artificial intelligence.
“She is also the second oldest person ever recorded, behind only Jeanne Calment who lived to the age of 122.”
Guinness World Records
Now the world’s oldest person
Sister André, from Toulon, has now officially been recognised as the current oldest living person. She was born on 11 February 1904 making her current age just over 118 years old.
Not only is she now the world’s oldest living person, but Sister André has also received the record for oldest COVID-19 survivor. She tested positive for the coronavirus in January 2021 but overcame it within a mere three weeks having suffered few symptoms or side effects.
The secret to long life
What Calment, Tanaka and Sister André all have in common, is their active lifestyles, good eating habits and stress management. Even when age overcame their physical bodies, all three women kept their brains occupied and their attitudes positive.
Calment kept an active mind while also greatly attributing her longevity to a healthy diet rich in olive oil.
Tanaka woke up at 6 am every morning, ate well, regularly practised maths and played a favourite board game called Othello.
While Sister André still keeps her mind busy every day. She tells Guinness World Records, “They get me up at 7 am, they give me my breakfast, then they put me at my desk where I stay busy with little things.”
Another interesting thing these ladies all have in common is their love for chocolate and wine or port. Sister André even refers to chocolate as her “guilty pleasure” and has a glass of wine every day. Although we can’t say for sure if this is a contributor to their longevity.