Agnes Keleti will be awarded the Israel Prize for Sport and Physical Culture this year, Minister of Education Naftali Bennett announced on Tuesday.
Bennett affirmed the recommendation of the prize committee headed by Yael Arad, Israel’s first Olympic medalist from the 1992 Barcelona Games. Other members of the committee included Paralympic Games medalist Ron Bolotin, former Israel national team basketball player Gur Shelef and sportscaster Miri Nevo.
The 96-year-old Keleti won 10 Olympic medals in artistic gymnastics representing Hungary at the 1952 and 1956 Games.
Keleti, a Holocaust survivor, moved to Israel in 1957.
“A unique, powerful and brilliant woman. A trailblazing woman, a leader and a role modal to her students in Israel and across the world who lives among us and is still considered to be one of the greatest gymnasts in history,” read the committee’s announcement. “Agnes Keleti was one of the originators of artistic gymnastics in Israel and led the sport for over 50 years. She coached generations of gymnasts and champions throughout the years.”
Source: The Jerusalem Post
