Ágnes Keleti, the oldest living Olympic medalist and a Holocaust survivor, has passed away at the age of 103, following a recent hospitalization. She died on January 2 in Budapest after being critically ill with pneumonia, as reported by Hungarian state news agencies.

Keleti’s remarkable journey in gymnastics earned her 10 Olympic medals, including five golds, at the Helsinki 1952 and Melbourne 1956 Games. Her success came despite being barred from the sport in 1941 due to her Jewish heritage and enduring the horrors of the Holocaust.

To survive the Holocaust, Keleti adopted a false identity and worked as a maid in Hungary, narrowly escaping persecution while losing several family members, including her father, in Auschwitz.

Her athletic career faced interruptions due to World War II, the cancellation of the 1940 and 1944 Olympics, and an injury in 1948. Yet she made a triumphant return, dazzling the world with her talent on the floor exercise at the age of 31, earning a gold medal in 1952 alongside additional silver and bronze medals.

After retiring from competitive gymnastics, Keleti moved to Israel, where she became an athletic trainer and coached the country’s Olympic gymnastics team until the 1990s.

The International Olympic Committee honored her legacy, describing her as Hungary’s greatest gymnast and a symbol of resilience and excellence.

In a 2021 interview marking her 100th birthday, Keleti reflected on her vibrant life: “These 100 years felt to me like 60. I live well. And I love life.”

Keleti, who would have turned 104 on January 9, leaves behind an inspiring legacy of triumph over adversity and dedication to the sport she loved.

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