Controversial Coach Bela Karolyi, Mentor to Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton, Dies at 82

Nov 17, 2024, 02:35 AM

Bela Karolyi, born on September 13, 1942, the renowned yet controversial gymnastics coach who trained Olympic champions Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton, died on Friday at age 82. Karolyi and his wife, Martha, were instrumental in transforming the United States into a dominant force in international gymnastics, coaching multiple Olympic gold medalists and world champions in both Romania and the U.S. After defecting from Romania to the United States, he established a gymnastics training center in the Houston area. Despite his success, Karolyi faced criticism over his rigorous and often abusive coaching methods, with allegations of contributing to a toxic culture within the sport. He was also linked to the USA Gymnastics scandal involving Larry Nassar and had largely disappeared from public life following the revelations.