Death of Bela Karolyi, emblematic coach of gymnast Nadia Comaneci

Her name is indisputably linked to that of Nadia Comaneci, among others. Former Romanian coach Bela Karolyi, who led the then 14-year-old gymnast to Olympic gold in 1976 in Montreal, died at the age of 82, the American Gymnastics Federation (USGA) announced on Saturday, November 16. , without specifying the causes of death.

“A great influence on my life. Rest in peace Bela Karolyi »paid tribute to Nadia Comaneci on her Instagram account.

Bela Karolyi, a Romanian from the country’s Hungarian minority, was the coach of the young Romanian athlete, a gym legend, during her Olympic coronations in 1976 in Montreal, with a perfect score (10) and in 1980, at Moscow. He then defected to join the United States in 1981, even though he did not speak English. Three years later, he led American Mary Lou Retton to Olympic gold in Los Angeles.

Known for his strict discipline, Bela Karolyi has been a controversial figure as a coach in the United States, with his wife Marta at their Texas ranch, national training center between 2001 and 2018, left by Team USA after the scandal of sexual assault by federation doctor Larry Nassar.

An injured gymnast in his arms

When Nassar was sentenced to life in prison, several former gymnasts came forward saying the Karolyi were part of a system that created an oppressive culture that allowed Nassar’s actions to spiral out of control for years. Although the couple has denied responsibility – telling CNN in 2018 that they were unaware of Nassar’s behavior – these revelations led them to step away from the spotlight.

Although they allowed the United States to become a major power in gymnastics, Bela Karolyi’s methods have sometimes sparked controversy.

At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the coach was notably criticized for encouraging Kerri Strug to compete on the vault during the team competition when she was seriously injured in her ankle. The image that remained was that of Bela Karolyi carrying the gymnast in her arms as the Americans took to the podium to celebrate their victory.

Dominique Moceanu, Olympic champion in 1996 in Atlanta under his direction, described, on Saturday, on his X account, a man with two sides. “Bela Karolyi was a man whose influence on my life and on high-level gymnastics was important, it is undeniable. He was a complex individual, a mixture of strengths and weaknesses that marked those around him. » “His harsh words and critical attitude weighed heavily on me. If our relationship was marked by difficulties, some of these moments forged me and helped me find my way”she added.