Bela Karolyi, one of the most prominent gymnastics coaches in the United States, died at 82, USA Gymnastics announced Saturday evening.
- Jill Geer, a spokesperson for USA Gymnastics, confirmed Karolyi’s death on Friday but did not disclose the cause.
- Karolyi played a pivotal role in transforming USA Gymnastics into a global powerhouse from the 1980s through the 2010s, with his wife, Márta, taking over many of his leadership duties later in his career.
After achieving success with Nadia Comăneci in Romania, the Karolyis launched the careers of U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame inductees, including Dominique Dawes, Phoebe Mills, Betty Okino, Kerri Strug, Mary Lou Retton, and Kim Zmeskal.
- The couple gained early fame with Mary Lou Retton, the first American woman to win an Olympic all-around gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
- Retton, a fan of Comăneci, joined the Karolyis’ Houston program in the early 1980s, initially with modest expectations.
In a 2016 interview with USA Gymnastics, Retton recalled her first American Cup competition under Karolyi’s guidance:
“I figured I’m just going to sit in the stands at Madison Square Garden and just shoot the breeze,” she said. “It would be a learning experience for me because I had never been up against the Russians and the top girls in the world. I had nothing to lose, literally. … The night before Bela said, ‘Mary Lou, this is your chance.’ And in typical Bela fashion: ‘Don’t let me down.’”
Karolyi’s influence on gymnastics and his legacy as a coach remain profound, leaving a lasting impact on the sport worldwide.
The Karolyis defected from Romania, a dominant force in gymnastics, during a U.S. exhibition tour in 1981 as their country faced economic decline during the Cold War, USA Gymnastics reported.
- They moved to Oklahoma and later settled in Houston, where they established a gym that attracted American women aspiring to compete internationally.
- Bela became the national team coordinator but stepped down in 2001.
- Márta, also 82, succeeded him and held the role until her retirement in 2016, extending their influence across decades, including her mentorship of Simone Biles.
In 2016, USA Gymnastics purchased Karolyi Ranch and honored the couple’s significant influence on American competitors.
- The couple was inducted into the U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2000. USA Gymnastics celebrated their achievements, noting, “Bela and Marta produced 28 Olympians, nine Olympic Champions, 15 World Champions, 12 European medalists, and six U.S. National Champions over 30 years of coaching in both Romania and the U.S.”
The couple’s tenure as top coaches coincided with that of former team doctor Larry Nassar, who is serving time in federal prison after pleading guilty in 2017 to charges related to child pornography and molesting young girls under the guise of treatment. More than 265 victims, including USA Gymnastics stars Biles, Maroney, Raisman, and Douglas, accused Nassar of abuse.
In a 2018 interview, Márta Karolyi responded to questions about Nassar’s crimes at the USA Gymnastics National Team Training Center at Karolyi Ranch: “That’s awful,” she said, emphasizing that any child violated by Nassar was a crime. She added that USA Gymnastics had hired Nassar and that the facility, though bearing the Karolyi name, was operated by USA Gymnastics. Bela Karolyi said the couple was unaware of complaints against Nassar and expressed a deep distrust of him, saying, “I had the feeling of a snake coming to bite you.”
In 2018, USA Gymnastics terminated its contract with Karolyi Ranch and closed the Texas facility.
Gymnasts who trained with the Karolyis shared heartfelt memories, though some reflected on the challenges they faced under their coaching.
- Hall of Fame gymnast Dominique Moceanu, a member of the team that won the U.S. women’s first Olympic team gold in 1996, spoke about the difficulties of training under Karolyi. “His harsh words and critical demeanor often weighed heavily on me,” she shared, acknowledging that some hardships helped shape her own path.
- Whitney Harding, a former gymnast and sports reporter, described Karolyi as an uncle figure who offered support and encouragement. “Bela was mortal, flawed, imperfect,” she said, recalling how he would offer hugs and words of encouragement like, “Way to go!” and “You can do it!”
Nadia Comăneci also honored Bela Karolyi, calling him a “big impact and influence” in her life, sharing a black-and-white photo of them together from her youth.
