Agnes Keleti, Holocaust Survivor and Olympic Gymnastics Legend, Dies at 103

Keleti, one of the most decorated Jewish Olympians, overcame the Holocaust and political upheaval to achieve historic success in gymnastics.

Agnes Keleti, born in Budapest in 1921, survived the Holocaust by assuming a false identity and working as a maid for a pro-Nazi family.
Her gymnastics career, interrupted by World War II and personal tragedies, resumed after the war, leading to 10 Olympic medals, including five golds, at the 1952 and 1956 Games.
Keleti sought asylum in Australia during the 1956 Melbourne Olympics following the Soviet suppression of the Hungarian Revolution, later settling in Israel and contributing to gymnastics as a coach.
She became the oldest living Olympic champion and was widely celebrated for her resilience, optimism, and significant contributions to sports and Jewish history.
Keleti’s legacy includes induction into multiple sports halls of fame and recognition as one of the most successful Jewish female athletes in Olympic history.