Agnes Keleti, World’s Oldest Living Olympic Gold Medallist, Passes Away at 103 - PRESS AI WORLD
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Agnes Keleti, World’s Oldest Living Olympic Gold Medallist, Passes Away at 103

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Agnes Keleti, World’s Oldest Living Olympic Gold Medallist, Passes Away at 103

Credited from: THEGUARDIAN

Agnes Keleti, the world's oldest living Olympic gold medallist and five-time champion gymnast, has died at the age of 103, as confirmed by the Hungarian Olympic Committee (HOC). Born as Agnes Klein on January 9, 1921, in Budapest, Keleti's life was marked by significant achievements and profound challenges, including her survival during the Nazi regime in World War II.

Keleti joined the National Gymnastics Association in 1938 and won her first Hungarian championship in 1940, but her career was abruptly halted due to her Jewish heritage. The International Olympic Committee hailed her as "the greatest gymnast produced by Hungary," acknowledging that her life and career were intertwined with the tumultuous political climate of her time.

During the war, she narrowly escaped deportation to the death camps by hiding in a village with false papers, while many of her family members lost their lives in Auschwitz. Keleti achieved her first Olympic gold medal at the Helsinki Games in 1952 at the age of 31, and she peaked at the Melbourne Games in 1956, where she secured four golds, solidifying her status as the oldest female gymnast to win a gold medal.

After her retirement, Keleti moved to Israel, where she built a family and continued to be recognized for her contributions to sports, amassing a total of 10 Olympic medals throughout her career. Today, she is remembered not only for her athletic prowess but also for her resilience in overcoming adversity.

For further details, please refer to original reports by Reuters and The Guardian.


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