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Ágnes Keleti (1921-2025) of Hungary, Oldest Ever Olympic Champion

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024Tomi
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After some sad news from Hungary, here's something delightful: Ágnes Keleti (née Klein) (b. 9 January 1921) has celebrated her 102th birthday in her home in Budapest.

She's the oldest living Olympic Champion on Earth, having won 5 golds (plus 3 silver and 2 bronze medals) in gymnastics at the 1952 and 1956 Olympic Games.

Birthday report

On the occasion of her birthday, the recently-released film Aki legyőzte az időt (Conquering Time) was broadcasted on Hungary's main TV channel from 8:40 p.m. today.

Happy birthday to Ms Keleti! Boldog születésnapot!

ESO Correspondent for Hungary (since 2020)
GRG Correspondent for Hungary (2020-2023)
Tracker and researcher of Hungarian and other Central European (super)centenarians (since 2016)
Enthusiast of extreme longevity (since childhood)


   
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AQ
 AQ
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Oh my goodness, that is amazing news! She is still competing at 102 years old!!!???

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024Tomi
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@aquanaut_chalk You surely misunderstood something, she obviously hasn't competed in many decades. However, she could still do the splits until just a few years ago, and regularly did so whenever somebody did a report on her.

The oldest active gymnast is Johanna Quaas, she last competed in 2018 at 92.

ESO Correspondent for Hungary (since 2020)
GRG Correspondent for Hungary (2020-2023)
Tracker and researcher of Hungarian and other Central European (super)centenarians (since 2016)
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AQ
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Oh ok. My apologies. I got mixed up there. I had heard of athletes competing over 100, like Stanislaw Kowalski, and I thought that Mrs. Keleti was the oldest active competitor of the age 100 division, but I got the two different groups mixed up. 

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024Tomi
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At the age of 102 years and 242 days, Ágnes Keleti is now the oldest Olympic Champion ever. She surpassed fellow Hungarian Sándor Tarics (23 September 1913 – 21 May 2016) today, who earned a gold medal with the national water polo team at the 1936 Olympic Games. 

ESO Correspondent for Hungary (since 2020)
GRG Correspondent for Hungary (2020-2023)
Tracker and researcher of Hungarian and other Central European (super)centenarians (since 2016)
Enthusiast of extreme longevity (since childhood)


   
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024Tomi
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Ágnes Keleti turned 103 yesterday:

Best wishes to her!

ESO Correspondent for Hungary (since 2020)
GRG Correspondent for Hungary (2020-2023)
Tracker and researcher of Hungarian and other Central European (super)centenarians (since 2016)
Enthusiast of extreme longevity (since childhood)


   
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024Tomi
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Ágnes Keleti is now witnessing her second Summer Olympic Games as a centenarian, being the first champion (and medallist) to achieve this.

A total of six Olympians have achieved this feat so far (source):

  • Rudolf Schrader (1875-1981) (gymnast at 1904 St. Louis) - 1976 Montréal & 1980 Moscow
  • Walter Walsh (1907-2014) (shooter at 1948 London) - 2008 Beijing & 2012 London
  • Félix Sienra (1916-2023) (sailor at 1948 London) - 2016 Rio de Janeiro & 2021 Tokyo
  • Yvonne Chabot-Curtet (1920-present) (athlete at 1948 London & 1952 Helsinki) - 2021 Tokyo & 2024 Paris
  • Iris Cummings (1920-present) (swimmer at 1936 Berlin) - 2021 Tokyo & 2024 Paris
  • Ágnes Keleti (1921-present) (gymnast at 1948 London & 1952 Helsinki) - 2021 Tokyo & 2024 Paris

It must be noted that had 2020 Tokyo been not postponed to 2021, Cummings and Keleti wouldn't be on the list. Mien Schopman-Klaver (1911-2018) also saw two games as a centenarian (2012 London & 2016 Rio de Janeiro), but she was an alternate athlete at 1932 Los Angeles and did not compete.

This is the most recent photo of Ágnes I could find (taken c. 1 June):

Happy Olympics everyone, enjoy the games! Go Hungary!

ESO Correspondent for Hungary (since 2020)
GRG Correspondent for Hungary (2020-2023)
Tracker and researcher of Hungarian and other Central European (super)centenarians (since 2016)
Enthusiast of extreme longevity (since childhood)


   
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024Tomi
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Five-time Olympic gold medalist gymnast and Holocaust survivor Ágnes Keleti (b. 9 January 1921), the oldest ever Olympic champion, sadly passed away today, on 2 January 2025, in a Budapest hospital, one week before her 104th birthday.

I remember reading about her when she was still in her early 90s, showing tremendous vitality for someone her age. She just kept going – on 9 January 2021, she reached age 100; on 8 September 2023, she became the oldest ever Olympic gold medalist, surpassing Hungarian-American water polo player Sándor Tarics (1913-2016). Ágnes was highly popular in her native Hungary and in Israel too, where she had lived for decades. A true icon – a testament to human persistence, spirit, and greatness.

She will be missed greatly.

Rest in peace, Ágnes Keleti. Nyugodj békében, Ági néni.🖤

ESO Correspondent for Hungary (since 2020)
GRG Correspondent for Hungary (2020-2023)
Tracker and researcher of Hungarian and other Central European (super)centenarians (since 2016)
Enthusiast of extreme longevity (since childhood)


   
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FinbarrC
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Posted by: @024tomi

  • Iris Cummings (1920-present) (swimmer at 1936 Berlin) - 2021 Tokyo & 2024 Paris

Passed away on 24th January 2025 at 104y 34d, the last survivor of the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

 

https://finbarrconnolly.com/chronicle/


   
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024Tomi
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Posted by: @finbarrc

Posted by: @024tomi

  • Iris Cummings (1920-present) (swimmer at 1936 Berlin) - 2021 Tokyo & 2024 Paris

Passed away on 24th January 2025 at 104y 34d, the last survivor of the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

 

Very sad news. What a witness to history she was. Rest in peace, Iris Cummings.

 

ESO Correspondent for Hungary (since 2020)
GRG Correspondent for Hungary (2020-2023)
Tracker and researcher of Hungarian and other Central European (super)centenarians (since 2016)
Enthusiast of extreme longevity (since childhood)


   
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FinbarrC
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And now the oldest Olympian, Yvonne Chabot-Curtet, has died at 104y 269d. 

4 of the 5 oldest Olympians have died since New Year's Day.

The oldest Olympian now is apparently Rhoda Wurtele-Eaves of Canada, 1952 Alpine Skier; 103y 33d.

https://finbarrconnolly.com/chronicle/


   
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diego
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As for the Summer Olympics, the oldest athlete is now William de Rham (SUI), born on January 22, 1922, he is an equestrian and participated in the 1956 Jumping event.


   
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