Wine, whiskey and Mark Todd: Three Kiwi Things That Never Age

There are three things you know will get better with age in New Zealand: wine, whiskey and Mark Todd.

The veteran Kiwi esquestrian has just been selected to his eighth Olympic Games, where he will compete as part of New Zealand's eventing team.

Todd, who turned 60 in March, will also be New Zealand's oldest ever Olympian when he competes in Rio de Janerio in August.

The former Badminton champion beats out William E. Swinnerton, who sailed for New Zealand at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics; which is also ironically the year Todd was born in Cambridge.

During his eight Olympic outings, Todd has collected two individual golds (1984 and 1988), a silver and two bronzes in team eventing (1988, 1992 and 2012) – as well as a individual bronze (2000).

Despite being 60, Mark Todd is an Olympic athlete like few other. Video: NZOC

In addition to his eight Olympic appearances, the 60-year-old was also named to the team for the 1980 Moscow Games before a boycott of Western nations meant he couldn't compete.

While his ability on the horse is undeniable – he's currently ranked third best in the world – that hasn't helped in the profile stakes outside New Zealand

As recently as the London Games, officials were mistaking him for a n

"I remember leaving the venue at Greenwich Park, and the official said 'I'm sorry sir, this bus is for athletes," he told the New Zealand Herald.

"I went to get a free haircut at the village, and they said the same. I kept getting asked what team I was an official for."

While he should probably expect more of the same at the athlete's village in Rio, he's still got a fair way to catch up on the oldest-ever Olympians.

Austrian horseman Arthur von Pongracz was 72 when he competed at the 1936 Berlin Games, as was Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn in Antwerp in 1920.

Horseman Bill Roycroft is Australia's oldest Olympian, having also competed in team eventing at the 1976 Games, aged 61. He won bronze in Montreal, alongside his son Wayne.