A Melbourne doctor who welcomed his first child at 93 may have just broken a world record that's stood for nearly three decades. But Dr John Levin isn't stopping there—he's planning for baby number two.
The current Guinness World Record for oldest legal father belongs to Australian Les Colley, who had his ninth child at 92 years 10 months in 1992.
The Hampton East GP and his wife Dr Yangying Lu, 37, welcomed son Gabby, creating one of Australia's most remarkable age-gap families.
With a 56-year difference between the parents, their story challenges everything we think we know about modern parenthood.
Love knows no boundaries
Dr Levin's journey to late-life fatherhood began with heartbreak and transformation. While the average age of Australian fathers has risen to 33.1 years, Dr Levin was already in his 80s when he decided to learn Mandarin following his first wife Veronica's death after 57 years of marriage.
His Chinese language teacher, Dr Lu, became much more than an instructor. Their whirlwind romance led to a Las Vegas wedding in 2014, and a decade later, they've created a family that defies conventional expectations.
'People think at first that he is Johnny's grandson, or sometimes great-grandson,' Dr Lu explains about public reactions to baby Gabby.
'When we explain they can't contain their surprise. But for us, it's about the choices that make us happy.'
'Of course being there for his 21st is a goal'
The science of senior fatherhood
What makes Dr Levin's story even more extraordinary is the biological reality he's overcome.
Male fertility begins to decline significantly around age 40, and it can take a man five times longer to conceive at 45 than in their 20s.
Research shows that only 42 percent of men over age 51 meet the World Health Organisation's standard for semen quality, compared to 61 percent of men under age 51.
The statistics become even more challenging with advanced age.
Monash University research found that male fertility drops by 4.1 per cent per year in IVF treatments, regardless of the female partner's age.
This groundbreaking study dispelled the myth that older men with younger partners automatically have better fertility outcomes.
Dr Fabrizio Horta from Monash University explains the biological mechanism: 'The hypothesis is that as men get older their sperm becomes susceptible to DNA damage' caused by oxidative damage from free radicals.
Against all odds—IVF success in the 90s
The couple's fertility journey involved IVF treatment, where success rates typically plummet with advanced paternal age.
Research shows that while nearly half of men under 35 successfully fertilise eggs through IVF, this drops to 42 per cent for ages 36-40, 35 per cent for ages 41-45, 32 per cent for ages 46-50, and just 30 per cent for men over 51.
At 93, Dr Levin was attempting IVF in virtually uncharted territory, making their first-try success even more remarkable.
'I was very lucky. We achieved a pregnancy on the first try,' Dr Lu recalls. 'It can be so difficult for many women. One of my mothers' group took 14 cycles to produce her daughter.'
Australian father age statistics
The median age of Australian fathers is 33.8 years (2023), making Dr Levin nearly 60 years older than the typical new dad.
Victoria, where the family lives, has some of Australia's oldest fathers with a median age of 33.7 years.
The secret to staying strong
Dr Levin's extraordinary fertility success may be linked to his decades-long commitment to anti-aging practices.
For 30 years, he's injected human growth hormone and maintained a strict lifestyle including regular gym sessions and intermittent fasting—eating no meals before noon, mostly vegetarian fare.
He doesn't drink alcohol or smoke, factors that research shows significantly impact male fertility alongside aging.
His professional expertise as a healthy aging specialist has clearly informed his personal approach to longevity.
Advanced paternal age typically increases risks for premature birth, lower APGAR scores, and babies may have 'less semen volume and sperm with less motility'.
However, Dr Levin's lifestyle choices may have helped mitigate some of these age-related fertility challenges.
Planning for baby number two
Despite the biological obstacles, the couple are already considering expanding their family. 'We're thinking of another one, we'd like to have a little girl,' Dr Levin told radio station Nova 100.
However, Dr Lu sounds more cautious: 'We're still talking!' The practical considerations are significant—if successful, a second child would make Dr Levin potentially the oldest father of two children in recorded history.
What makes this story remarkable
- Dr Levin appears to be the world's oldest new father at 93
- Previous record holder was 92 years 10 months
- Only 30 per cent of men over 51 achieve IVF pregnancy success
- Success achieved on first IVF attempt
- Planning for a second child
Facing the future together
Dr Lu has realistically considered the challenges ahead. 'I am prepared to parent on my own in the future,' she acknowledges, while converting to Judaism in preparation for their son's bar mitzvah—an event Dr Levin is determined to attend.
The couple benefits from extensive family support, including Dr Levin's three surviving children from his first marriage: Ashley, 62, and Samantha, 60, plus 10 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Tragically, his eldest son Greg died at 65 from motor neurone disease.
'With modern families these days you see different types of families and they make it work,' Dr Lu reflects. 'If other people can make it work, so can I.'
Looking ahead
Dr Levin's determination to be present for major milestones reflects both optimism and realism. 'Of course being there for his 21st is a goal,' he says, which would make him 114 years old. More immediately, he's focused on Gabby's bar mitzvah at 13, where he plans to read the Torah alongside his son.
Their story challenges societal expectations about aging, parenting, and family formation. While advanced maternal age is widely discussed in fertility conversations, Dr Levin's case highlights how paternal age deserves equal attention in family planning discussions.
Whether or not they proceed with a second child, this Melbourne family has already made medical history.
Dr Lu dismisses any suggestion their relationship was motivated by money, noting Dr Levin was 'bankrupt' when they met—theirs was purely a love match that happened to defy biological odds.
As baby Gabby grows up in this unique family constellation, he'll have the unusual distinction of potentially being the child of the world's oldest new father—and possibly, if his parents' plans come to fruition, gaining a sibling who would cement their father's place in the record books forever.
Have you encountered families with significant age gaps? What do you think about the challenges and joys of late-life parenting? Share your thoughts below—we'd love to hear from you.
Primary Source
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15189101/93-year-old-dad-child-john-levin.html
Oldest legal father | Guinness World Records
Cited text: The oldest ever man to father a child was reportedly Les Colley (1898—1998, Australia), who had his ninth child a son named Oswald to his third wife...
Excerpt: The current Guinness World Record for oldest legal father belongs to Australian Les Colley, who had his ninth child at 92 years 10 months in 1992
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/oldest-father-
10 Oldest Fathers in the World—Oldest.org
Cited text: Although not much is known about Les Colley, he is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest legal father.
Excerpt: The current Guinness World Record for oldest legal father belongs to Australian Les Colley, who had his ninth child at 92 years 10 months in 1992
https://www.oldest.org/people/fathers/
From House-Hubbies to On-Duty Dads, Australian Fathers are Actively Parenting—McCrindle
Cited text: There is certainly a trend of fatherhood becoming a delayed life stage, with the average age of a new father now 33.1 years of age!
Excerpt: While the average age of Australian fathers has risen to 33.1 years
https://mccrindle.com.au/article/fr...ds-australian-fathers-are-actively-parenting/
How male age affects fertility and IVF success rates—Monash Lens
Cited text: Male fertility begins to decline significantly around the age of 40. It can take a man five times longer to conceive at 45 than in their 20s.
Excerpt: Male fertility begins to decline significantly around age 40, and it can take a man five times longer to conceive at 45 than in their 20s
https://lens.monash.edu/@medicine-h...ock-ticks-for-men-too-and-affects-ivf-success
Sperm Quality Older Age
Cited text: The study of nearly 5,000 IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI, where a single sperm is injected into an egg) attempts determined that 42 pe...
Excerpt: Research shows that only 42 percent of men over age 51 meet the World Health Organisation's standard for semen quality, compared to 61 percent of men under age 51
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/sperm-fertility-declines-significantly-after-age-50
How male age affects fertility and IVF success rates—Monash Lens
Cited text: The analysis of nearly 2500 rounds of IVF treatment from 1506 Monash patients with unexplained infertility found that the chances of a baby dropped in...
Excerpt: Monash University research found that male fertility drops by 4.1 per cent per year in IVF treatments, regardless of the female partner's age
https://lens.monash.edu/@medicine-h...ock-ticks-for-men-too-and-affects-ivf-success
How male age affects fertility and IVF success rates—Monash Lens
Cited text: “The hypothesis is that as men get older their sperm becomes susceptible to DNA damage,” Mr Horta says.
Excerpt: 'The hypothesis is that as men get older their sperm becomes susceptible to DNA damage' caused by oxidative damage from free radicals
https://lens.monash.edu/@medicine-h...ock-ticks-for-men-too-and-affects-ivf-success
How male age affects fertility and IVF success rates—Monash Lens
Cited text: We don’t exactly know.” · However, global research, he says, suggests age leads to 'oxidative' damage of the DNA—caused by too many free radicals in...
Excerpt: 'The hypothesis is that as men get older their sperm becomes susceptible to DNA damage' caused by oxidative damage from free radicals
https://lens.monash.edu/@medicine-h...ock-ticks-for-men-too-and-affects-ivf-success
Sperm Quality Older Age
Cited text: Nearly half of male IVF/ICSI participants under age 35 in the study were able to successfully fertilize an egg. Among those ages 36 to 40, that rate f...
Excerpt: Research shows that while nearly half of men under 35 successfully fertilise eggs through IVF, this drops to 42 per cent for ages 36-40, 35 per cent for ages 41-45, 32 per cent for ages 46-50, and just 30 per cent for men over 51
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/sperm-fertility-declines-significantly-after-age-50
Births, Australia, 2023 | Australian Bureau of Statistics
Cited text: For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents, the median age of: · mothers was 26.8 years, five years younger than the median age of all mothers...
Excerpt: The median age of Australian fathers is 33.8 years (2023)
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/births-australia/latest-release
From House-Hubbies to On-Duty Dads, Australian Fathers are Actively Parenting—McCrindle
Cited text: The Northern Territory and Tasmania are home to our nation’s youngest dads, with the median age of fathers at 31.5 and 31.7 years respectively at the ...
Excerpt: Victoria, where the family lives, has some of Australia's oldest fathers with a median age of 33.7 years
https://mccrindle.com.au/article/fr...ds-australian-fathers-are-actively-parenting/
Sperm Quality Older Age
Cited text: “Men are also not immune to the various social risk factors that affect women, such as smoking, drinking, drugs, stress and more, and just as a woman’...
Excerpt: research shows significantly impact male fertility alongside aging
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/sperm-fertility-declines-significantly-after-age-50
Sperm Quality Older Age
Cited text: For example, studies have shown that children of older fathers are more likely to be born prematurely, or to have lower APGAR scores — a test routinel...
Excerpt: Advanced paternal age typically increases risks for premature birth, lower APGAR scores, and babies may have 'less semen volume and sperm with less motility'
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/sperm-fertility-declines-significantly-after-age-50
Sperm Quality Older Age
Cited text: “He is donating half of the DNA.” · In addition to producing sperm with greater potential for mutation, older men also tend to have less semen volume ...
Excerpt: Advanced paternal age typically increases risks for premature birth, lower APGAR scores, and babies may have 'less semen volume and sperm with less motility'
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/sperm-fertility-declines-significantly-after-age-50
Sperm Quality Older Age
Cited text: And men over age 51 were able to facilitate pregnancy just 30 percent of the time.
Excerpt: Only 30 per cent of men over 51 achieve IVF pregnancy success
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/sperm-fertility-declines-significantly-after-age-50
IVF Success Rates & Statistics | PFCLA IVF Clinic Blog
Cited text: Advanced maternal age: As women get older, their fertility declines, making it harder to conceive naturally.
Excerpt: advanced maternal age is widely discussed in fertility conversations
https://www.pfcla.com/blog/ivf-success-rates-statistics
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