Former university rector still plays badminton at 90

Former University of Iceland rector Sveinbjörn Björnsson is still playing badminton at 90, 70 years after he first took up the sport, mbl.is reported.

Björnsson, a physicist, began playing in 1956 after learning from Benedikt Jakobsson at the university gym. He played with fellow students until spring 1959, when he left for Germany to study physics. He was unable to play badminton there and resumed the sport after returning to Iceland in 1964.

He has played with his friend Jón Leifur Óskarsson since around 1970. They played at Laugardalshöll until 1975, then began playing at the TBR badminton hall in Gnoðarvogur in 1976. They have also played at a second TBR hall since it opened in 1987.

Björnsson turned 90 on 28 October, and fellow players marked the occasion with a gift. He had a hip replacement about a year and a half ago but says it did not force him to stop playing. He and Óskarsson, who will turn 90 next summer, say they have slowed down on court.