Winter Paralympics: Shinobu Fukushima, 61 goaltender for Japan plays ice hockey

Nevertheless, he admitted that in reecent years he did tried to retire. "I thought I wanted leave it to younger guys," he said.

Athletes who have crossed a certain age ofter opt for slower-paced Paralympic sports such as wheelchair curling  rather than the fast and furious form of hockey played at the Games.

Fukushima is not the only ice hockey player in Pyeongchang getting on a bit. There are four other players -- three in the Swedish team and one in the Czech -- are over 50, highlighting a difficulty to interest the younger generation in the sport.

There were only 30 dedicated para-ice hockey players from the whole of Japan and Fukushima is one among them to come to Pyeongchang.

When asked about his plans to keep playing, he replies with laugh -- until 101. His age has made him more enthusiastic and a star in Japan. He lost his legs due to a spine injury sustained in a traffic accident aged 24. He first tried wheelchair basketball, before later taking up para-ice hockey.

Fukushima first competed at the 2002 Paralympics in Salt Lake City, and he has since appeared for Japan at three other editions of the Games.

Japan's ice hockey team have not done well in Pyeongchang. They have lost all four of their matches so far, including a 10-0 drubbing to reigning Paralympic champions the United States.

When asked whether he gets teased regarding his age, he replied with a loud laugh: "Other players call me 'grandpa'."

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