Bela Karolyi, controversial gymnastics coach who mentored Olympic champions, dies at 82
LA TimesMartha Karolyi, left, and Bela Karolyi watch the U.S. women’s gymnastics team celebrate after winning the gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. Bela Karolyi carries Kerri Strug after she helped the U.S. win team gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics despite sustaining a severely sprained ankle during the vault competition. Karolyi briefly became the national team coordinator for USA Gymnastics women’s elite program in 1999 and incorporated a semi-centralized system that eventually turned the Americans into the sport’s gold standard. While the Karolyis’ approach helped the U.S. become a superpower — an American woman has won each of the last six Olympic titles and the U.S. women earned the team gold at the 2012 and 2016 Games under Martha Karolyi’s leadership — their methods came under fire.
History of this topic
Béla Károlyi, demanding gymnastics coach who guided Nadia Comăneci to perfect 10s and Olympic golds
The Telegraph
Bela Karolyi, former coach of Comaneci and US team, dies aged 82
The Hindu
Bela Karolyi, legendary and controversial gymnastics coach, dies at 82
NPR
Bela Karolyi, the polarizing coach who helped launch gymnasts to Olympic stardom, dies at 82
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