Famous Hungarians – Keleti Ágnes, the Great Hungarian Gymnast

Ágnes Keleti was born to a Jewish family in 1921. She started doing gymnastics at the age of 4. In that moment she leapt into her life’s passion. She was a top pick for the 1940 Olympics. But World War II cancelled the Games and put her in grave danger. She would have to forget her dreams. While the Nazis ravaged Europe, Ágnes lived under a Christian identity and worked as a maid. After the war she was determined to show the world what she was made of. An injury kept her out of the Olympics in 1948. But she persisted. In 1952 she finally competed in the Olympics in Helsinki – and brought home four medals. But she wasn’t done yet. In 1956, 35-year-old Ágnes Keleti competed in the Melbourne Olympics. She brought home four gold medals becoming the oldest gymnast to win gold. She moved to Israel where she coached generations of gymnasts. The 96-year-old has just been awarded the Israel Prize in Sport and Physical Culture (The Nobel Prize of Israel). Strength, flexibility, courage. We all have a lot to learn from Ágnes Keleti.

Can you fill in the gaps in the sentences on the basis of the text?

1. Ágnes Keleti is a Hungarian …… who won eight Olympic gold …… .

2. She lived under …… identity and worked as a …… during World War II.

3. She was …… years old when she became the …… gymnast to win gold medals in the Melbourne Olympics.

4. She moved to …… where she …… lots of gymnasts.

5. She is …… years old now and she was ….. with the Nobel Prize of Israel.

Key

1. gymnast, medals

2. Christian, maid

3. 35, oldest

4. Israel, coached

5. 96, awarded