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Jose Flores Flores

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Jose Flores Flores
Jose Flores Flores
Flores Flores at the claimed age of 110.
Birth: 11 July 1907?
Canas, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Age: 117 years, 86 days?
Country: Costa RicaCRI
Longevity claimant

Jose Flores Flores (born 11 July 1907?) is a Costa Rican supercentenarian claimant whose age is currently unvalidated by the Guinness World Records (GWR). If his claimed age were validated, he would be the oldest living man in the world since the death of Tomas Pinales Figuereo on 24 September 2020, as well as the oldest person ever from Costa Rica. He would also become the oldest living person in the world since the death of Maria Branyas Morera on 19 August 2024.

Biography[]

Flores Flores claims to have been born in Lajas De Canas, Canas, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, on 11 July 1907. He allegedly started working on the fields at the age of six. He claims that his paternal grandmother died at the age of 135.

In his early life, he was exempted from mandatory military service, because he needed to work in the fields.

He married Ofelia Arias Badilla and had 16 children, eight of whom were deceased as of June 2017. In 1948, he participated in the Costa Rican Civil War.

In August 2024, he had eight living children: Jose Alberto, Carlos Luis, Wilberth, Gerardo, Maria Gerardina, Martha Lorena, Maritza, and Sandra. At that time, he also had 23 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Centenarian Years and Later[]

He was first reported on by the media at the claimed age of 107, shortly before his 108th birthday in 2015. The news station in the town he lives in, has covered his story, each year since his claimed 109th birthday.

In February 2020, at the claimed age of 112 he was reported by his local news station as the oldest living man in the world after the death of Chitetsu Watanabe of Japan. It was also reported that Flores Flores lacked any notable health issues, and could still see perfectly without the aid of eyeglasses.

In April 2021, at the claimed age of 113, Flores Flores contracted COVID-19, but he had successfully recovered. In May 2022, his family took him to hospital because of a health problem, and he tested positive for COVID-19 again. He recovered after staying at hospital during eight days.

Following the death of claimed 115-year-old Berta Cantillano Cantillano on 23 June 2022, he was reported by the medias to be the oldest living person in Costa Rica. Following the death of 115-year-old Casilda Benegas on 28 June 2022, he became a claimant for the title of the oldest living person in Latin America.

In July 2022, for his claimed 115th birthday, he was reported again to have lacked any notable health issues. At this time, he was still able to walk completely unaided, although he preferred the use of a cane. He said he spent most of his time coloring, and playing dominoes.

His claimed 116th birthday in July 2023, was marked by two celebrations. His local news station held a small birthday party for him, the day before his 116th birthday, and his local senior center held a large celebration on the day of his 116th birthday. Many people attended the party, including some of his children. At this time, he was reported to have still been in decent health, although he suffered from prostate problems, and was nearly deaf. He was described as lucid, and social, and often spent up to 7 hours per day, socializing with other seniors at his local senior center.

In early July 2024, shortly before his claimed 117th birthday, he was visited by a TV station, and described to still have a healthy appetite, but that he had experienced failing eyesight and memory problems in the past few months. At this time, he was still able to walk with a cane.

In August 2024, it was reported that although Flores Flores' had some health problems, his digestive system was still good. He reportedly enjoys eating pizza without any digestive issues.

He says his secret to longevity, is good genes, his faith in God, spending time with family, hard work, and a healthy diet. Flores Flores follows a mostly vegetarian diet, consisting of eggs, cheese, beans, and rice. He says he does not like meat, but will eat it on rare occasions. In August 2024, he added that not only must one work hard to have a long life, but one must also not be afraid of hard work.

Flores Flores currently lives in Santa Rosa de Pocosol, Alajuela, Costa Rica, at the claimed age of 117 years, 86 days. If his claimed age were validated, he would be the oldest living person in the world and the oldest man ever (being older than Jiroemon Kimura).

Age Records[]

As of 2024, the age of Flores Flores has neither been proven or debunked. Mid-life and late life documents have been located supporting his age, but the only early life document that has been found to support his age is a baptismal record, dated 1907. Documents exempting him from mandatory military service in the 1920s, and military records from 1948 are said to exist, but so far neither have been found. It has also been pointed out, that he couldn't be much younger than the claimed age, due to having a 95 year old son, but unfortunately no records have ever been found supporting him having a 95 year old child.

Gallery[]

References[]

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