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Jeanne Calment remains one of the most extraordinary figures in recorded human history. Born in 1875 in Arles, southern France, Calment lived to the age of 122 years and 164 days, making her the oldest verified person ever documented.
She died in 1997, having lived through three centuries and witnessed seismic shifts in society, technology, and world history, from the construction of the Eiffel Tower to the dawn of the internet age.
Her age has been scrutinised more than almost any other longevity claim.
Birth records, census data, marriage documents, and photographs were examined by demographers and historians, and her status as the longest-lived human is still widely accepted by the scientific community.
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While occasional theories have questioned her identity, no alternative explanation has been proven, and her record stands.
What has kept public interest alive long after her death, however, is not just how long she lived, but how she lived. Calment openly admitted to habits that seem to clash with modern health advice.
She smoked cigarettes for much of her life, only quitting at around 117.
She enjoyed port wine in moderation and famously loved chocolate, which she claimed to eat daily. She did not follow a special diet, avoid indulgence, or subscribe to any strict wellness philosophy.
Instead, Calment often credited her longevity to simpler factors. She spoke about staying active, keeping her mind engaged, and maintaining a calm, humorous outlook on life.
She continued riding a bicycle into her late 90s and lived independently until the age of 110, only moving into a care home after suffering a fall.
Even in her final years, she remained sharp-witted, once joking that she had “only one wrinkle and she was sitting on it”.
Experts are careful to stress that Calment’s story should not be treated as a blueprint for a long life.
Genetics are believed to have played a major role, and she is considered a statistical outlier rather than proof that lifestyle choices like smoking or drinking can be harmless.
Her habits did not make her live longer; she lived long despite them.
Still, Jeanne Calment’s life continues to fascinate because it defies easy explanation.
In an age obsessed with optimisation and longevity hacks, her story stands as a reminder that human biology is unpredictable, and that sometimes, the longest lives cannot be neatly explained at all.
