At 103, Agnes Keleti – the world’s oldest living Olympic champion – is still lighting up the #Paris2024 Games with her infectious energy and wisdom. 🌟 The Hungarian gymnastics icon, who survived the Holocaust and won 10 Olympic medals, embodies resilience and the timeless power of sports to unite.
“Sports offered me lifelong benefits far beyond the game itself,” Keleti told crowds at the Olympic Exhibit in Budapest. Born in 1921, she lost family members at Auschwitz during WWII and spent years in hiding. Yet she emerged to dominate gymnastics in her 30s, winning 5 gold medals and becoming a global inspiration.
Her secret to longevity? “Never stop moving forward,” she laughs. At the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, her floor exercise routine – broadcast globally on rising TV networks – redefined gymnastics and earned her the nickname “Queen of the Mats.” 🏅
Samu Szemerey, curator of Budapest’s Olympic Exhibit, says Keleti’s legacy teaches that “athletes can become models for millions to follow.” As wars and crises divide nations, Keleti emphasizes the Games’ unifying role: “When the world unites for sports, we shine brighter against darkness.”
Cheering Team Hungary from Paris stands with her son Raphael, Keleti remains a living bridge between Olympic history and today’s Gen-Z athletes. Her message to them? “Your strength can bring light to the world.” 💪
