### Bela Karolyi, Renowned Gymnastics Coach, Passes Away at 82

Bela Karolyi, a legendary figure in the world of gymnastics who, along with his wife Martha, coached Olympic champions for over three decades, has died at the age of 82, as announced by USA Gymnastics. Karolyi's coaching career includes guiding iconic gymnasts like Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton to Olympic all-around gold.

Nadia Comaneci, perhaps the most famous of Karolyi's protégés, expressed her sorrow on social media, calling him a "big impact and influence" in her life. Svetlana Boginskaya, another gymnast who trained under Karolyi and clinched Olympic gold in 1988 and 1992, shared her own poignant tribute, recalling both the highs and lows of their time together. Dominique Moceanu, a member of the victorious 1996 U.S. Olympic team, also reflected on her complicated relationship with the coach, acknowledging both his significant influence and the challenges she faced under his guidance.

The Karolyis launched their coaching careers in Romania during the 1960s. Their most notable early achievement was with Comaneci, whom they discovered when she was just in kindergarten. Under their rigorous training, Comaneci achieved international fame at the 1976 Olympics, earning three gold medals and scoring seven perfect-10s.

The Karolyis' relationship with the Romanian government soured after the 1980 Moscow Games due to disputes over scoring practices favoring Soviet gymnasts. They defected to the U.S. in 1981, eventually establishing Karolyi's World Gymnastics in Houston. Among their first American successes was Mary Lou Retton, who won the U.S. its first Olympic women's all-around title at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

Bela Karolyi's coaching of the U.S. women's gymnastics team spanned several Olympic Games, including 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, he famously encouraged Kerri Strug to perform a crucial vault despite a severe ankle injury, helping the U.S. team secure their first Olympic team gold.

While celebrated for their success, the Karolyis faced criticism for their strict training methods, with some former gymnasts describing them as emotionally demanding. Martha Karolyi acknowledged this, stating that emotional resilience was necessary to withstand the pressures of high-level gymnastics.

Bela Karolyi's influence on American gymnastics continued as he served as the U.S. national women's team coordinator from 1999 to 2001, followed by Martha from 2001 to 2016. The Karolyis also hosted training camps at their Houston ranch from 2000 to 2017, a period marred by revelations of abuse by Larry Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics team doctor. The Karolyis have denied any knowledge of Nassar's misconduct, and a 2018 investigation by Texas law authorities found no corroborated evidence of criminal conduct by the couple.

Bela Karolyi's legacy in gymnastics remains transformative, though not without controversy. As the sport continues to evolve, his contributions and the discussions around his coaching methods will undoubtedly remain a significant part of gymnastics history.