17. November 2024  
Indianapolis, USA  
Artistic Gymnastics

Gymnastics coach Bèla Kàrolyi deceased

Bèla Kàrolyi (ROU/USA) *13.09.1942 - +15.11.2024

USA Gymnastics announced the death on Friday 15 November of Hungarian-born, later Romanian and gymnastics coaching legend Béla KÀROLYI at the age of 82, who made world sporting history with his former protégé, the then 14-year-old Nadia Comaneci and her 1976 Olympic victory in Montreal. Under Károlyi and his wife Martha, who moved to the USA in 1981 and worked there for more than 30 years, the US gymnasts later became one of the leading gymnastics nations. The couple produced numerous Olympic and world champions.

From 2001 to 2016, Bèla Kàrolyi was the coordinator of the USA women's national team, including at the Olympic Games in Sydney.
Together with his wife, they had a reputation for rigid and strict behaviour towards their protégés. Their tenure also saw the scandal surrounding Larry Nassar, who was accused and convicted of sexualised violence against 265 women and girls, including Olympic champions such as Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney, during his 20-year tenure as doctor to the US Gymnastics Federation and the gymnasts at Michigan State University.
*Source: US Gymnastics
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 * ... see also under ► IN SILENT REMEMBRANCE

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