{"id":444469,"date":"2026-06-21T17:37:28","date_gmt":"2026-06-21T15:37:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/?p=444469"},"modified":"2026-06-21T17:18:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-21T15:18:02","slug":"apres-83-ans-vie-commune-plus-vieux-couple-monde-fascine-internet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/sexo\/vie-amoureuse\/after-83-years-of-living-together-the-worlds-oldest-couple-fascinates-the-internet-444469","title":{"rendered":"After 83 years of marriage, the &quot;oldest couple in the world&quot; fascinates the internet"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Their love story spans generations. Lyle and Eleanor Gittens, married for 83 years, have just been officially recognized as &quot;the oldest living married couple in the world.&quot; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/02\/13\/nx-s1-5707481\/oldest-living-married-couple-shares-their-love-story\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Their journey has captivated internet users worldwide<\/a> .<\/p>\n<h2> A record validated by the Guinness World Records<\/h2>\n<p> It&#39;s now official: Lyle and Eleanor Gittens, aged 108 and 107 respectively, have entered the Guinness World Records. The couple, originally from the United States and now residing in Miami, holds several impressive titles. They are recognized as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li> the oldest living married couple in the world,<\/li>\n<li> the oldest married couple of all time,<\/li>\n<li> the living couple with the longest marriage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> An exceptional trio of distinctions, validated by the reference body after verification of the 1942 marriage certificate and the American censuses by LongeviQuest, an organization specializing in the certification of centenarians.<\/p>\n<h2> An encounter during a basketball game in 1941<\/h2>\n<p> It all began in 1941 on the campus of Clark Atlanta University. Students at the same university, Lyle and Eleanor first met at a basketball game\u2014a sport in which Lyle was then a star player. It was while watching one of his games that Eleanor noticed him. Lyle quickly made the first move, taking advantage of a chance encounter on campus. A story reminiscent of those seen in old American movies, but one that has, in fact, spanned more than eight decades.<\/p>\n<h2> A wedding celebrated during military leave<\/h2>\n<p> Their union didn&#39;t wait: the couple married on June 4, 1942, in Bradenton, Florida. The circumstances of the time, however, made the ceremony perilous. Lyle, who had enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941, saw his fate change abruptly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Aware that he could be sent into combat at any moment, he obtained only three days&#39; leave to marry Eleanor. The wedding was celebrated in haste\u2014and on that day, Lyle met his future wife&#39;s family for the first time. A union born in the haste of war, which ultimately survived all the upheavals of the 20th and 21st centuries.<\/p>\n<h2> A family life built after the war<\/h2>\n<p> After the war, the couple settled in New York, where they started their family. Two daughters, Angela and Ignae, joined their family. Lyle, who studied electrical engineering at Ohio State University during the war, and Eleanor both went on to work in the civil service. They say they particularly enjoyed working together, which strengthened their bond over the decades. More recently, their daughter brought them closer to her by settling them in Miami, where they now live a peaceful life.<\/p>\n<h2> The secret to their longevity: &quot;Appreciating each other as much as loving each other&quot;<\/h2>\n<p> When asked about the secret to their incredibly long-lasting relationship, Eleanor&#39;s answer is surprisingly simple and wise. <em>&quot;You have to appreciate the person as much as you love them. I even think that appreciating yourself is even more important,&quot;<\/em> she confides. A subtle distinction, but one that speaks volumes about their philosophy as a couple: beyond romantic feelings, it&#39;s daily respect and compatibility of character that have allowed their relationship to last. Lyle, for his part, offers an even more understated explanation: <em>&quot;There&#39;s really no secret. You just live. You live each day, and you almost become one person.&quot;<\/em><\/p>\n<h2> A testimony collected by their daughter for StoryCorps<\/h2>\n<p> It was on Valentine&#39;s Day 2026 that Angela, one of their daughters, recorded their story for StoryCorps, an American organization specializing in collecting oral histories. The interview aired on February 13, 2026, on NPR&#39;s morning show, one of the American public radio networks, as part of the &quot;Brightness in Black&quot; project.<\/p>\n<p>During this interview, Lyle offered a particularly touching image to describe their relationship: <em>&quot;I think of us as the princess and the pauper. And the princess and the pauper triumphed, for 83 years.&quot;<\/em> A metaphor that speaks volumes about his humility regarding his story, and about the admiration he still holds for Eleanor after all these years. <em>&quot;I was lucky,&quot;<\/em> he added, before Eleanor immediately replied, <em>&quot;I love him.&quot;<\/em><\/p>\n<h2> A story that fascinates internet users worldwide<\/h2>\n<p> Since the broadcast of their interview and the official announcement of their record by Guinness World Records, the story of the Gittens couple has gone viral. International media outlets, social media accounts, and lifestyle websites are all sharing their journey and statements. This fascination is easily explained at a time when lasting relationships seem rarer and dating sites have profoundly altered the landscape of love. Their story serves as a shining counter-example, reminding us that a deep bond, built day after day, can withstand any challenge\u2014including those of a century of historical upheaval.<\/p>\n<p>With 83 years of marriage, Lyle and Eleanor Gittens have written one of the most beautiful chapters in the recent history of couples. From a university meeting to a wedding during World War II and more than eight decades of life together, their journey embodies everything one could hope for in a great love story. And when Lyle, at the age of 108, confides that <em>&quot;there&#39;s no secret, we just live,&quot;<\/em> he perhaps offers the most beautiful lesson this couple could give to the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Their love story spans generations. Lyle and Eleanor Gittens, married for 83 years, have just been officially recognized...","protected":false},"author":8375,"featured_media":444471,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5717],"tags":[97333,97372],"class_list":["post-444469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-vie-amoureuse","tag-couple","tag-relation"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/tiago-tins-_-Pexels-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/tiago-tins-_-Pexels-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/tiago-tins-_-Pexels.jpg","author":{"name":"Fabienne Baure","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/fabienne-baure-96x96.jpg"},"categories":[{"term_id":5717,"name":"Love life","slug":"vie-amoureuse","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5885,"taxonomy":"category","description":"&quot; <em>So, what about you and your love life? Oh boy, it&#39;s complicated...<\/em> &quot; Who hasn&#39;t had this kind of conversation with a loved one? Yes, our love lives can really be complicated! But they&#39;re also a source of immense happiness. <strong>They push us to question ourselves, to do things right, and to give our all to make the other person happy<\/strong> . Between work and personal activities, having a 100% fulfilling love life isn&#39;t always easy! <strong>Here, we take the guilt out of relationships, we make you laugh, and above all, we help you put things into perspective<\/strong> . It&#39;s not easy for anyone, but in the end, all these little worries and great joys come together to create a beautiful whole. Ready to give it a try, ladies?<h2> Stories that make you laugh and sometimes... cry<\/h2> As you know, at The Body Optimist, we very often give our readers a voice. <strong>You are a daily source of inspiration<\/strong> , and it&#39;s essential that you can find a magazine that welcomes you to share your stories.\n\nThus, we discover, for example, the portrait of Lysa through her testimony: &quot;Me, Lysa, fat and lesbian. A double whammy?&quot; Or our reader who recounted a more or less complicated date through her testimony: &quot;Fat women are like slippers, they&#39;re comfortable, but you don&#39;t go out in them.&quot;\n\nWe also don&#39;t hesitate to <strong>put out calls for testimonies on our social media<\/strong> . For example, you&#39;ve shared with us the worst things your (ex)partners have said about your weight, or the worst breakup lines you&#39;ve ever heard.\n\nWe also discuss sexuality with the testimony of this reader who explained how terrified she was about her first time because of her curves. We also take the time to listen to our male readers, like this man who asked us how to tell his wife she had gained weight and that he was worried about her.\n\n<strong>In this section, there are no taboos; everyone has a voice<\/strong> ! We recently responded to a young reader who confided that she had fallen in love with an overweight boy but couldn&#39;t accept it for fear of what others would think. Conversely, we gave the floor to Fanny, who recounted the misadventures she&#39;d experienced with men she met online.\n\nAs you&#39;ve probably gathered, <strong>don&#39;t hesitate to message us privately or contribute to the discussion on our forums<\/strong> . We have a dedicated section where you can discuss any topic that matters to you about your love life. Come share your thoughts!<h2> Is the quality of one&#39;s love life of paramount importance for a human being?<\/h2> If you regularly follow The Body Optimist, you&#39;ll see that there&#39;s no shortage of news about couples and love lives! <strong>Whether positive or negative, this news isn&#39;t necessarily meant to be taken too seriously<\/strong> . The goal here is to learn in a fun way, not to compare your own relationship. Just take the positive aspects of the information you find!\n\nFor example, laugh at our readers who recount their worst dates... so bad they were funny! Besides, we now officially know that kissing is cheating for 7 out of 10 French women, according to a study !\n\nWe also talk about problems that can affect your self-confidence. How do you silence the gossips when you&#39;re taller than your partner? Or your privacy. <strong>We know, for example, that a majority of French people cover certain parts of their bodies when they make love<\/strong> .\n\nWe also don&#39;t hesitate to share with you all the news stories we find truly funny, like the centenarian woman who told usher secret to longevity is avoiding men ! Thanks to current events, we also know that couples in love tend to gain weight at the same time.\n\nLikewise, <strong>did you know that the couples most likely to last are those who exchange lighthearted banter and gentle teasing<\/strong> ? Yes, indeed! Also, be careful if you&#39;re being unfaithful: you could be found out in as little as 5 minutes!<h2> The editorial team&#39;s tips for being happy in your relationship<\/h2> Like all situations that affect us, we sometimes need a few tips and tricks to take a step back and try to analyze the situation a little...\n\nWe&#39;ll start with the basics by giving you some first-date ideas that are a bit different from the usual movie\/restaurant routine. <strong>We also won&#39;t hesitate to warn you<\/strong> . For example, would you be able to tell if you&#39;re in a relationship with a narcissistic abuser ?\n\nLikewise, we&#39;re interested in you as a woman in your own right. Are you curvy and worried about not being attractive because of it? Let us stop you right there: <strong>men who date curvy women are happier<\/strong> !\n\nFurthermore, you should also learn to overcome your insecurities with Jules in your intimate moments. We&#39;ll give you some tips on this. Once you&#39;ve taken this crucial step, it could be very enjoyable to spice up your sex life by making love in completely unexpected places, for example !\n\nIn short, <strong>let go and above all, don&#39;t be afraid to express your feelings<\/strong> , your emotions, your fears, but also to simply say &quot;I love you&quot;...","parent":6135,"count":709,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":5717,"category_count":709,"category_description":"&quot; <em>So, what about you and your love life? Oh boy, it&#39;s complicated...<\/em> &quot; Who hasn&#39;t had this kind of conversation with a loved one? Yes, our love lives can really be complicated! But they&#39;re also a source of immense happiness. <strong>They push us to question ourselves, to do things right, and to give our all to make the other person happy<\/strong> . Between work and personal activities, having a 100% fulfilling love life isn&#39;t always easy! <strong>Here, we take the guilt out of relationships, we make you laugh, and above all, we help you put things into perspective<\/strong> . It&#39;s not easy for anyone, but in the end, all these little worries and great joys come together to create a beautiful whole. Ready to give it a try, ladies?<h2> Stories that make you laugh and sometimes... cry<\/h2> As you know, at The Body Optimist, we very often give our readers a voice. <strong>You are a daily source of inspiration<\/strong> , and it&#39;s essential that you can find a magazine that welcomes you to share your stories.\n\nThus, we discover, for example, the portrait of Lysa through her testimony: &quot;Me, Lysa, fat and lesbian. A double whammy?&quot; Or our reader who recounted a more or less complicated date through her testimony: &quot;Fat women are like slippers, they&#39;re comfortable, but you don&#39;t go out in them.&quot;\n\nWe also don&#39;t hesitate to <strong>put out calls for testimonies on our social media<\/strong> . For example, you&#39;ve shared with us the worst things your (ex)partners have said about your weight, or the worst breakup lines you&#39;ve ever heard.\n\nWe also discuss sexuality with the testimony of this reader who explained how terrified she was about her first time because of her curves. We also take the time to listen to our male readers, like this man who asked us how to tell his wife she had gained weight and that he was worried about her.\n\n<strong>In this section, there are no taboos; everyone has a voice<\/strong> ! We recently responded to a young reader who confided that she had fallen in love with an overweight boy but couldn&#39;t accept it for fear of what others would think. Conversely, we gave the floor to Fanny, who recounted the misadventures she&#39;d experienced with men she met online.\n\nAs you&#39;ve probably gathered, <strong>don&#39;t hesitate to message us privately or contribute to the discussion on our forums<\/strong> . We have a dedicated section where you can discuss any topic that matters to you about your love life. Come share your thoughts!<h2> Is the quality of one&#39;s love life of paramount importance for a human being?<\/h2> If you regularly follow The Body Optimist, you&#39;ll see that there&#39;s no shortage of news about couples and love lives! <strong>Whether positive or negative, this news isn&#39;t necessarily meant to be taken too seriously<\/strong> . The goal here is to learn in a fun way, not to compare your own relationship. Just take the positive aspects of the information you find!\n\nFor example, laugh at our readers who recount their worst dates... so bad they were funny! Besides, we now officially know that kissing is cheating for 7 out of 10 French women, according to a study !\n\nWe also talk about problems that can affect your self-confidence. How do you silence the gossips when you&#39;re taller than your partner? Or your privacy. <strong>We know, for example, that a majority of French people cover certain parts of their bodies when they make love<\/strong> .\n\nWe also don&#39;t hesitate to share with you all the news stories we find truly funny, like the centenarian woman who told usher secret to longevity is avoiding men ! Thanks to current events, we also know that couples in love tend to gain weight at the same time.\n\nLikewise, <strong>did you know that the couples most likely to last are those who exchange lighthearted banter and gentle teasing<\/strong> ? Yes, indeed! Also, be careful if you&#39;re being unfaithful: you could be found out in as little as 5 minutes!<h2> The editorial team&#39;s tips for being happy in your relationship<\/h2> Like all situations that affect us, we sometimes need a few tips and tricks to take a step back and try to analyze the situation a little...\n\nWe&#39;ll start with the basics by giving you some first-date ideas that are a bit different from the usual movie\/restaurant routine. <strong>We also won&#39;t hesitate to warn you<\/strong> . For example, would you be able to tell if you&#39;re in a relationship with a narcissistic abuser ?\n\nLikewise, we&#39;re interested in you as a woman in your own right. Are you curvy and worried about not being attractive because of it? Let us stop you right there: <strong>men who date curvy women are happier<\/strong> !\n\nFurthermore, you should also learn to overcome your insecurities with Jules in your intimate moments. We&#39;ll give you some tips on this. Once you&#39;ve taken this crucial step, it could be very enjoyable to spice up your sex life by making love in completely unexpected places, for example !\n\nIn short, <strong>let go and above all, don&#39;t be afraid to express your feelings<\/strong> , your emotions, your fears, but also to simply say &quot;I love you&quot;...","cat_name":"Love life","category_nicename":"vie-amoureuse","category_parent":6135}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/444469","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8375"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=444469"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/444469\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":444999,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/444469\/revisions\/444999"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/444471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=444469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=444469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=444469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}