Controversial Coach Bela Karolyi, Who Trained Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton, Dies at 82

Nov 17, 2024, 01:35 AM

Bela Karolyi, the renowned yet polarizing gymnastics coach who transformed the United States into an international gymnastics power, died on November 15, 2024, at the age of 82. Originally from Romania, Karolyi defected to the U.S. after coaching Nadia Comaneci to Olympic gold. Alongside his wife, Martha Karolyi, he established a gym in the Houston area and trained numerous Olympic gold medalists, including Mary Lou Retton. His coaching methods led to nine Olympic gold medals for his athletes but also courted controversy over his treatment of young gymnasts.