th ▁London ▁Cup , ▁but ▁his ▁major ▁success ▁was ▁to ▁win ▁the ▁gold ▁medal ▁in ▁the ▁single ▁sc ull s , ▁row ing ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 0 8 ▁Summer ▁Olympics . ▁He ▁was ▁aged ▁forty ▁and ▁his ▁oppon ent ▁in ▁the ▁final ▁Alexander ▁McC ul lo ch ▁was ▁exactly ▁half ▁his ▁age ▁and ▁had ▁won ▁Diam onds ▁that ▁year . ▁The ▁final ▁was ▁considered ▁the ▁fin est ▁race ▁of ▁the ▁Olympic ▁Reg atta ▁ ▁and ▁was ▁virt ually ▁level ▁until ▁the ▁last ▁ 5 0 ▁yards ▁when ▁Black st aff e ▁held ▁on ▁to ▁a ▁light ▁advantage ▁to ▁become ▁the ▁oldest ▁sc ull ing ▁champion ▁in ▁Olympic ▁history . ▁ ▁After ▁this ▁ ▁victory , ▁Black st aff e ▁retired ▁and ▁was ▁made ▁a ▁Fre eman ▁of ▁the ▁City ▁of ▁London . ▁He ▁was ▁later ▁senior ▁life ▁vice - pres ident ▁of ▁the ▁Am ateur ▁Row ing ▁Association . ▁He ▁died ▁at ▁West ▁W ick ham , ▁aged ▁ 8 3 . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁profile ▁ ▁Category : 1 8 6 8 ▁birth s ▁Category : 1 9 5 1 ▁death s ▁Category : English ▁male ▁row ers ▁Category : English ▁Olympic ▁med all ists ▁Category : B rit ish ▁male ▁row ers ▁Category : O lymp ic ▁row ers ▁of ▁Great ▁Britain ▁Category : Row ers ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 0 8 ▁Summer ▁Olympics ▁Category : O lymp ic ▁gold ▁med all ists ▁for ▁Great ▁Britain ▁Category : O lymp ic ▁medal ists ▁in ▁row ing