Leon Štukelj

Leon Stukelj was married to Lidiji and had two children.

He suffered a heart attack and died on November 8, 1999, just four days short of his 101th birthday, in Ljubljana, Slovenia. He was interred at Pobrezje Cemetery, in Maribor.

The University Sports Centre Hall at the University of Maribor and sports hall in Novo Msto, used by the local basket ball team, are named after this legendary gymnast.

Leon Stukelj was born on November 12, 1898 in Novo Mesto, Austro-Hungarian Empire, present-day Slovenia.

He completed his formal education from grammar school and graduated in law in 1927 to become an active member of the Slovenian Sokol athletic movement, though for a brief period.

He pursued his judicial practice by becoming a judge first in Novo Mesto, followed by in Lenart and Maribor.

In 1922, Leon Stukelj participated in his first major international gymnastics competition, the World Championships in Ljubljana.

At his debut appearance at the Olympic Games, held in Paris, in 1924, he clinched gold in the all-around and horizontal bar events, the first for Yugoslavia. A national holiday was announced upon his return at the end of the tournament.

At the 1926 World Championships held in Lyon, he competed in high bar and rings events and won gold in both.

He participated in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games and secured a gold medal in the rings and two bronze medals, one each in all-around and team competitions.

He went on to participate in the subsequent World Championship tournaments—Luxembourg in 1930 and Paris in 1931.

Leon Stukelj was made an honorary citizen of Slovenia by Novo Mesto in 1968.

In 1988, he was honored with the Olympic Order by IOC President J.A. Samaranch and made an honorary member of the Olympic Committee.

He was honored as the oldest living Olympic gold medalist at the opening ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympics, held in Atlanta, US, and greeted by the then-US President Bill Clinton.

He was included in the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, in 1997.

In 1998, Slovenia celebrated his 100th birthday through a grand and elaborate celebration, especially in his hometown Novo Mesto.