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99-Year-Old Man Competes In World Tango Championships

James McManus, who represents Ireland in the competition, took up the Argentinean dance when he was in his 80s.
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By 

Senior Reporter, HuffPost

Whoever said old dogs can’t learn new tricks never met 99-year-old James McManus.

The Scottish-born World War II vet is representing Ireland in the World Tango Championships in Buenos Aires, which end Wednesday.

It seems age ain’t nothing but a dance number for McManus, who took up the dance when he was in his 80s.

“Tango brings me a lot of happiness. Dancing is very important socially,” he said, according to the Irish news website RTE.ie.

McManus funded the trip to the Tango Championship via GoFundMe.

Once there, he was definitely a star attraction.

According to a Facebook post by dance partner Lucia Seva, everyone wanted a picture with him.

McManus and Seva are just one of 744 couples from 36 countries competing in the event.

Although they might not end up on top, they have already earned the most applause, according to the Bangkok Post.

 

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Before You Go

Argentina's Tango Showdown
(01 of08)
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Dancers wait for the final results after competing at the 2012 Tango Dance World Cup stage finals in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Aug. 28, 2012. (credit:Natacha Pisarenko/Associated Press)
(02 of08)
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Argentina's Nahuel Tortosa and Barbara Ferreyra compete during the 2012 Tango Dance World Cup stage finals in Buenos Aires on Aug. 28, 2012. (credit:Natacha Pisarenko/Associated Press)
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Argentina's Jose Luis Medina and Maria Natalia Liendo Jimenez compete in the 2012 Tango Dance World Cup stage finals in Buenos Aires on Aug. 28, 2012. (credit:Natacha Pisarenko/Associated Press)
(04 of08)
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Argentina's Emmanuel Angel Casal and Yanina Lorena Muzyka compete during the 2012 Tango Dance World Cup stage finals in Buenos Aires on Aug. 28, 2012. (credit:Natacha Pisarenko/Associated Press)
(05 of08)
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Japan's Genta Nakazawa, left, and Manabu Kato compete during the 2012 Tango Dance World Cup stage finals in Buenos Aires on Aug. 28, 2012. (credit:Natacha Pisarenko/Associated Press)
(06 of08)
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Russia's couple Taisiya Finenkov and Dmitry Vasin compete during the 2012 Tango Dance World Cup stage finals in Buenos Aires on Aug. 28, 2012. (credit:Natacha Pisarenko/Associated Press)
(07 of08)
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Argentina's Ariel Leguizamon, top, and Yesica Esquivel compete during the 2012 Tango Dance World Cup stage finals in Buenos Aires on Aug. 28, 2012. (credit:Natacha Pisarenko/Associated Press)
(08 of08)
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Argentina's Cristian Sosa and Maria Noel Sciuto celebrate winning the 2012 Tango Dance World Cup stage finals in Buenos Aires on Aug. 28, 2012. (credit:Natacha Pisarenko/Associated Press)
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