The road to retrieve their daughter Andrea Karolyi from Romania took Bela and Marta Karolyi to a little-known congressman who worked on trade deals.
Bela Karolyi, a gymnastic coach who turned young women into champions and the United States into an international power in the sport, passed away at the age of 82.
Highlights
- Bela Karolyi passed away on November 15, 2024, at 82, due to an undisclosed reason.
- He had a daughter named Andrea Karolyi with his wife, Marta Karolyi.
- Andrea was a nutritionist at the U.S. Women’s National Gymnastics Team training center.
According to a spokesperson for the USA Gymnastics, Jill Geer, Karolyi took his last breath on Friday, November 15, 2024. However, the cause of death has not been revealed yet.
Karolyi helped build USA Gymnastics into an Olympic and international competition powerhouse from the 1980s through the 2010s.
After success with Nadia Comaneci in Romania, Bela and his wife helped to launch athletic careers in the U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame inductees Dominique Dawes, Phoebe Mills, Betty Okino, Kerri Strug, Mary Lou Retton, and Kim Zmeskal.
They found early fame in Retton, the first American woman to win an Olympic individual all-around gold, which she accomplished at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Retton was a fan of Comaneci and found herself embedded in the Karolyis program in Houston in the early 1980s. She has said she didn’t expect much from the experience, which she otherwise cherished.
In an interview with USA Gymnastics 2016, Retton described her first American Cup Competition under the Karolyis.
Bela eventually served as national team coordinator before stepping down in 2001.
Bela Karolyi’s And Marta Karolyi Left Their Daughter Andrea In Romania
Andrea Karolyi, the daughter of gymnastics coaches Bela and Marta Karolyi, was affected by her parents’ defection from Romania to the United States in 1981.
Although Andrea’s exact age has not been revealed, her physical appearance suggests she is in her mid-40s.
At the time, Andrea was only eight years old and remained in Romania, staying with her aunt. After her parents’ defection, she faced a period of uncertainty.
Later, Andrea recalled waiting at a train station, expecting her parents’ return, only to realize they were not coming back.
GYMNASTICS: Iconic coach of Romanian and U.S. stars, Bela Karolyi, passes at 82 ~ https://t.co/kUwB1SQrZJ pic.twitter.com/phaSNalYo5
— TheSportsExaminer (@Sports_Examiner) November 17, 2024
However, Congressman Bill Archer led the way in securing Andrea’s release.
Abusing Romania’s dependence on its “Most Favored Nation” trade status with the United States, Archer pressured the Romanian government by threatening its trade benefits.
Andrea was allowed to leave Romania within a month and reunite with her parents in Oklahoma.
Follwing their reunion, Andrea grew up as Bela and Marta established their legacy in U.S. Gymnastics. Her family moved to Texas, where the Karolyis built the Karolyi Ranch, the official U.S. Women’s National Gymnastics Team training center.
Later, Andrea worked as a dietitian and took on the role of managing the nutritional needs of athletes.
However, her work has been criticized in the context of broader allegations regarding the training center.
Claims about restrictive eating practices and subpar meal quality have raised questions about her involvement.
The critics pointed out the potential conflict of interest in her role as the daughter of the head coaches and questioned whether she could serve as a neutral advocate for the athletes’ well-being.
However, Andrea has been avoiding the media and interviews, so only limited information is available about her personal life.
Additional Information
- Gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi had an estimated net worth of around $10 million.
- He was born to his father, Nandor Karolyi, and his mother, Iren Karolyi.
- Bela became a national junior boxing champion and a member of the Romanian hammer-throwing team.
