Agnes Keleti, a renowned gymnast who lived to be 103, left an indelible mark on the sport. Overcoming the horrors of the Holocaust, she achieved remarkable success, winning ten Olympic medals, including five golds. Born in 1921, her gymnastics career was interrupted by the rise of Nazism, forcing her into hiding. After World War II, she resumed training and excelled at the 1952 and 1956 Olympics. Later, she contributed significantly to gymnastics in Israel, reflecting on her inspiring legacy with pride.
Remembering Agnes Keleti: A Legacy of Resilience
Agnes Keleti, a legendary figure in the world of gymnastics, passed away on Thursday at the remarkable age of 103. Her press officer, Tamas Roth, confirmed the news, revealing that she had been hospitalized for pneumonia the previous week. The International Olympic Committee paid tribute to her, declaring, “Agnes Keleti is the greatest gymnast produced by Hungary.” Her inspiring journey, marked by determination and courage, will be etched in history. As IOC President Thomas Bach noted, she overcame incredible adversity, surviving the Holocaust and securing ten Olympic medals, including five golds, in the aftermath of World War II.
A Journey Through Adversity and Triumph
Born as Agnes Klein on January 9, 1921, into a Jewish family, Keleti’s gymnastics journey began in childhood. By the age of 16, she claimed her first national championship title and was soon selected for Hungary’s national team. However, her promising career faced a tragic halt with the rise of Nazism. Banned from all sports due to her heritage, she was forced to abandon her dreams and focus on survival. During World War II, she lived in hiding, recounting how she obtained false identity papers from a Christian woman to evade capture. While her mother and sister survived, her father and several family members were tragically deported and perished in Auschwitz.
After the war, Keleti recommitted to her passion for gymnastics, training secretly along the Danube River. Despite injuring her ankle and missing the 1948 London Olympics, she made her Olympic debut in 1952 at the age of 31 in Helsinki, where she earned four medals, including a gold in her specialty, the floor exercise.
The following Olympics in 1956 brought her the pinnacle of success—six medals, all gold, setting a record for that event. However, this triumph coincided with the Soviet invasion of Budapest, prompting her to join 44 fellow athletes in seeking refuge in Israel. Once settled, she redirected her efforts towards establishing a national gymnastics program and coaching the national team, earning her the prestigious Israel Prize in 2017 for her contributions. She only returned to Hungary in 2015.
Throughout her life, Agnes Keleti remained aware of her significant legacy, reflecting on her journey with pride. On the occasion of her 100th birthday, she expressed, “It was worth doing something good in life,” encapsulating her enduring spirit and the impact she left on the world of sports.