“King of the Volunteers”: 89-Year-Old Returns to Olympics After 70 Years

When Mario Gargiulo boarded a train to the 1956 Cortina Winter Games, the 20-year-old from Naples never imagined he would return to the Olympic stage. Yet 70 years later, the 89-year-old has found himself in an unexpected starring role as the oldest volunteer at the 2026 Olympics.

Dubbed the “King of the Volunteers,” Gargiulo was among the first of 18,000 people to sign up when the call went out for the Milan-Cortina Games. His dedication earned him a special place in Sunday’s closing ceremony at Verona’s ancient Roman Arena, just a short walk from his home.

“To be part of it is incredible,” Gargiulo told The Associated Press hours before taking the stage. “I’ll wake up tomorrow and I’ll be wondering what happened to me. It’s beyond imagination.”

During the ceremony, Gargiulo joined warm-up presenters to share memories of his first Olympic experience in 1956. “Cortina in 1956 was a mountain village,” he told the gathering crowd. “Now the Games are spread out in Bormio, Milan and other places. But the spirit has not changed, there is the same sporting enthusiasm.”

His moment in the spotlight came later in the program when he took center stage as other volunteers formed the number “26” around him. In a touching gesture, he knelt down, removed his teal uniform hat, and bowed to the cheering crowd.

When Gargiulo first attended volunteer orientation meetings, he stood out dramatically among the predominantly young participants. “They were all 20, 25 years old, girls and boys, and they were looking at me sort of strange,” he recalled with a laugh.

His journey to the 1956 Olympics was driven by youthful curiosity. That train ride north of Rome marked his first venture to that part of Italy. “I went to Cortina out of a sudden desire to do something out of the ordinary. Nobody wanted to come with me so I, fascinated by this new thing everybody was talking about, went alone,” he explained.

The accommodations weren’t luxurious – Gargiulo could only afford a room without heat during those Winter Games, forcing him to sleep wearing every layer of clothing he’d brought. Cortina d’Ampezzo, now known as the “Queen of the Dolomites” and famous for its high-end boutiques, was then a small, quiet village primarily known to Italy’s wealthy elite.

What captivated Gargiulo most was the international atmosphere of the Games. “I was astounded because seeing all these flags, people of different countries,” he said. “Sport is a common tie for everybody. And after a while, even if you don’t know anything about the sport you’re watching, the competition, you become a fan.”

His love for Cortina stayed with him – years later, after marrying an American woman, they chose it as their honeymoon destination.

Gargiulo’s life took him far from Italy when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. His language skills proved valuable during his 27-year military career, leading to postings across the United States and abroad in Korea, Vietnam, Germany, and Russia. After becoming a U.S. citizen and rising to the rank of captain, he eventually retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1994.

When he volunteered for the 2026 Olympics, Gargiulo was initially disappointed to learn he wouldn’t be returning to Cortina or traveling to Milan. He wrote to organizers requesting a reconsideration. “They said, ‘We have a different plan for you,'” he recalled. “Then it turned out really it was something exceptional.”

During this month’s Games, he enjoyed watching Italian Alpine skier Federica Brignone’s remarkable super-G victory, achieved just 10 months after she suffered multiple broken bones in her left leg. He also attended speedskating and freestyle skiing events before his own moment in the Olympic spotlight arrived.

Though the years have naturally affected his physical capabilities, Gargiulo’s enthusiasm remains unchanged. “My pace, my tempo, has slowed down a bit,” he admitted to AP before the ceremony. “But my heartbeat is still the same.”

In his unexpected role at these Games, Gargiulo embodies the enduring Olympic spirit – a living connection between the 1956 Olympics that first captured his imagination and today’s global celebration of sport, seven decades later.