By Abidemi Samuel
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The world of sports and beyond is mourning the loss of Agnes Keleti, the world’s oldest Olympic champion and a Holocaust survivor, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 103. Keleti, a Hungarian gymnast, died at a Budapest hospital, where she had been hospitalized with pneumonia for the past week.
According to her press official, Tamas Roth, Keleti’s health had taken a turn for the worse, but her family had remained optimistic, hoping to celebrate her 104th birthday together on January 9th. Rafael Biro-Keleti, her son, had expressed his family’s wishes, saying, “We pray for her, she has a great vitality… We would like to celebrate her 104th birthday together as a family.”
Keleti’s remarkable life was marked by both triumph and tragedy. As a young gymnast, she won 10 Olympic medals, including five gold medals, between 1952 and 1956. Her achievements made her the oldest living Olympic champion and one of the most decorated female gymnasts in history.
However, Keleti’s life was also deeply affected by the Holocaust. As a Jewish athlete, she was forced to hide her identity and compete under an assumed name during the Nazi occupation of Hungary. Her experiences during this period had a profound impact on her life and shaped her perspective on the world.
Keleti’s passing is a loss not only for the world of sports but also for the global community. Her remarkable life, marked by resilience, determination, and achievement, serves as an inspiration to people around the world.
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