Agnes Keleti. Photo/DailyMail
(EPICSTORIAN) – Agnes Keleti, the world’s oldest Olympic champion and a Holocaust survivor, has passed away at the age of 103. The Hungarian Olympic Committee confirmed her death on Thursday, stating she died in a Budapest hospital after being admitted on Christmas Day with pneumonia.
A five-time Olympic gold medalist, Keleti won a total of 10 medals across the Helsinki 1952 and Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games, making her one of the most decorated Jewish athletes in history.
She was Hungary’s most successful female Olympian and was inducted into the International Gymnastics Federation Hall of Fame in 2002.
Agnes Keleti’s Life was Shaped by Resilience and Triumph
Born Agnes Klein in Budapest in 1921, Keleti began her gymnastics journey at the age of four. By 16, she was a national champion. However, her career faced significant challenges during World War II when she was expelled from her gymnastics team due to her Jewish heritage.
Keleti survived the Holocaust by assuming a false identity and working as a maid. Her father and several relatives perished at Auschwitz, among the 550,000 Hungarian Jews killed during the Holocaust. After the war, Keleti returned to gymnastics, qualifying for the 1948 Olympics but missing the competition due to injury.
Also Read: 10 Dead, 35 Injured as Vehicle Plows into Crowd on Bourbon Street
At 31, she made her Olympic debut in Helsinki, winning four medals, including her first gold. Four years later, at the Melbourne Games, she dominated, winning four golds and two silvers, becoming the oldest gymnastics gold medalist in Olympic history.
Contributions Beyond Competition
Following the Soviet invasion of Hungary during the 1956 Olympics, Keleti sought asylum in Australia before moving to Israel in 1957. There, she played a pivotal role in developing gymnastics, coaching the national team and serving as an international judge.
She also taught physical education and remained active in the sport until her retirement at 75.
Keleti’s memoir, The Three Lives of an Olympic Champion, was published in 2023, the same year she became the oldest-ever Olympic champion, surpassing Hungarian water polo player Sándor Tarics.
Her Legacy Will be Remembered
Keleti’s achievements and resilience continue to inspire generations. Her story is one of perseverance, triumph, and an enduring commitment to excellence. She would have celebrated her 104th birthday on January 9.
The Hungarian Olympic Committee expressed its condolences, calling her “the Athlete of the Nation” and “Hungary’s female athlete with the most Olympic medals.” Keleti’s contributions to gymnastics and her legacy as a survivor and champion will remain a beacon of hope and inspiration.
