Agnes Keleti, 96, who hid from Nazi oppression during the 1940s and went on to win Olympic medals in Helsinki and Melbourne during the 1950s, has been awarded the Israel Prize for Sport and Physical Culture.

Keleti, who was born in Hungary and would have been expected to compete for Hungary in the 1940 Olympics had war not intervened, immigrated to Israel in 1957 for the Maccabiah games.

The committee stated in its recommendation that Keleti is “a special, powerful, and brilliant woman. A trailblazer, leader, and paragon for all of her pupils in Israel and worldwide, who has made history and lives among us - highly respected in the world of sport and still considered one of the greatest gymnasts in history.”

Not content with being a fierce competitor on her own part – she collected 10 Olympic medals for gymnastics – she has also shared her gift with others, training gymnasts and guiding generations of athletes and coaches.