Olympic Champion Dead At 100

Leon Stukelj, a gymnast who won six medals at the Olympics and was the world's oldest living Olympic champion, died Monday, four days short of his 101st birthday.

Stukelj called an ambulance from his home, complaining of heart pains Sunday. When doctors arrived, his heart began failing and electric shocks failed to revive him. He died in the hospital.

He had maintained his health by working out on rings in his apartment and by taking hourlong walks in a park.

Stukelj won gold medals in the horizontal bar and all-around competition at the 1924 Paris Games. He won another gold in the rings four years later in Amsterdam. He also won two bronze medals at Amsterdam, in the all-around and team exercises, and a silver in the rings at Berlin in 1936.

One of his trademark moves is still known as the Stukelj maneuver.

Stukelj is Slovenia's most internationally recognized citizen. Slovenian President Milan Kucan decorated him in 1996 with the country's highest national honors.

"I was stunned by the news," said 60-year-old Miro Cerar, who followed his sports idol, winning Olympic gold medals on the horse in 1964 and 1968.

"He was approaching 101, but it was still a surprise because his mind was functioning in such good condition," Cerar told The Associated Press.

Kucan sent a public telegram expressing sympathy to Stukelj's wife and family.

"He molded the spirit and body into a perfect whole, knowing how to search for truth in life," Kucan wrote. "Slovenia will sincerely mourn the loss of such a man."

Stukelj will be remembered by many Slovenians for his childlike vitality and gentle touch.

"To us sportsmen and women, he represented the highest ideals one could reach," said Brigita Bukovec, who won a bronze medal in the 100-meter women's hurdles for Slovenia in 1996. "However, we, and the world, only realized his great achievements in recent years, through his perpetually youthful soul."

Stukelj quit gymnastics at 38. He then went on to work as a judge and also wrote books on his sport. He remained involved in Slovenian sports to the end of his life.

Stukelj was born on Nov. 12, 1898 in Novo Mesto, near the eastern border with Croatia.

He is survived by his wife and daughter, both named Lidija.

His funeral is Friday at Maribor. On Tuesday, the Slovene Olympic Committee and Maribor city council plan ceremonies.

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