Hungarian gymnast and the world's oldest Olympic champion, Ágnes Keleti, passed away.

Obituary

On January 2, 2025, Ágnes Keleti, the world’s oldest Olympic champion, Holocaust survivor, and legendary Hungarian gymnast, passed away at the age of 103 in Budapest, Hungary. Born on January 9, 1921, in Budapest, she was the most decorated female Olympian in Hungarian history, securing 10 Olympic medals—5 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze.


      - Ágnes Keleti joined the National Gymnastics Association in 1938 and claimed her first Hungarian championship in 1940.

      - She made her Olympic debut at the age of 31 at the 1952 Helsinki Games, where she won her first gold medal in the floor exercise, along with 1 silver and 2 bronze medals.

      - At the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, she became the most successful athlete of the Games, earning 4 gold medals and 2 silvers.

Main Point :-   (i) After the 1956 Olympics, Ágnes Keleti chose to settle in Israel, where she significantly contributed to the development of gymnastics as a coach and educator.

      (ii) She retired from coaching at the age of 75 but continued to mentor athletes, leaving an indelible mark on the sport and earning recognition as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time.

(iii) With the passing of Ágnes Keleti, French cyclist Charles Coste (aged 100) is now recognized as the oldest living Olympic champion.

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