John Whittemore (November 20, 1899 – April 13, 2005) was an American centenarian from Montecito, California, who was previously credited as being the "world's oldest athlete" (held until June 28, 2015, before being surpassed by Stanisław Kowalski)[1] A long time Masters Track athlete,[2] his last competition was on October 5, 2004, just six weeks before his 105th birthday.

[3] He threw the javelin and discus on that occasion in the Club West Masters Meet held at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

The next active claimant to the title was Australian Ruth Frith, who competed in throwing events at the 2009 World Masters Games in Sydney.

[8] Everett Hosack, who Jay Leno announced as the "world's oldest athlete" at the time, famously participated in the Penn Relays and USATF National Indoor Championships at age 101.

Whittemore attended Santa Barbara High School, where he was a long and triple jumper, and graduated in 1917.