Johanna Quaas

Johanna Quaas
Close-up portrait photo of the upper chest, neck, and face of Johanna Quaas, a tan Caucasian woman with short styled white hair, glasses, smiling, and who is slightly squinting because the sun is in her eyes; she is wearing a black one piece bathing suit of which the top part is visible
Quaas in 2017
Personal information
Alternative name(s)Johanna Geißler, Johanna Geißler-Quaas
Nickname(s)"Hannchen", "Turn-Oma" ("Gymnastics Grandma")
Country representedGermany
Born (1925-11-20) 20 November 1925 (age 99)
Hohenmölsen, Saxony-Anhalt, Weimar Republic
HometownHohenmölsen, Saxony-Anhalt
ResidenceHalle (Saale)
SpouseGerhard Quaas (gymnastics coach, 1963-2016)
DisciplineWomen's artistic gymnastics
LevelSenior Nationals
ClubSV Halle (Sportverein Halle)

Johanna Quaas (IPA: [joˈhana ˈkvaːs]; née Geißler IPA: [ˈgaɪsˌlɐ]; born 20 November 1925) is a German gymnast who, on 12 April 2012, was certified by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest active competitive gymnast. At the age of 86 when breaking the record, Quaas was a regular competitor in the amateur competition Landes-Seniorenspiele (State Senior Games) in Saxony. She became known worldwide when on 26 March 2012, YouTube user LieveDaffy uploaded two videos of Quaas performing gymnastics routines: one on the parallel bars and one on the floor. The clips became viral videos, and within six days of posting had generated over 1.1 million views each. In addition to being recognized by Guinness World Records, Quaas has received the Nadia Comăneci Sportsmanship Award from the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.