Category: Coaches, Gymnasts, Olympic Athletes
Highlights: One of the most accomplished gymnastics coaches ever, Hall of Famer Bela Karolyi served as coach to 9 Olympic gold medalists, include Nadia Comaneci, Kerri Strug and Mary Lou Retton.
Travels From: Texas
Fee Range: $5,001 - $10,000
Bela Karolyi is one of the best-known and successful gymnastics coaches in the history of the sport, having coached nine Olympic gold medalist including Nadia Comaneci, Mary Lou Retton, Dominique Moceanu, Julianne McNamara and Kerri Strug. He additionally coached six United States national champions and 15 world champions. Karolyi became a member of the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997 and, along with his wife Marta, was inducted in 2000 into the U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame. In 2014, Karolyi and his wife were honored by the United States Olympic Endowment with the George M. Steinbrenner III Sport Leadership Award.
Born on September 13, 1942 in Kolozsvar, Hungary (now Romania), Karolyi caught the word’s attention after serving as head coach of the Romanian team at the 1976 Summer Games, which captured seven medals and culminated in Comaneci receiving the first-ever perfect 10 at the Olympics. In 1981, Karolyi sought political asylum in the U.S. and eventually settled in Texas, where he continued his coaching, including for Retton and McNamara, both of whom won gold at the 1984 Summer Games. Karolyi’s training and coaching methods were so successful that between 2001-2018, USA Gymnastics used the Karolyi Ranch as its national training facility. In addition to his coaching, Karolyi served as a correspondent for NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.
Sports Speakers 360 has been the industry leader in booking athletes and sports speakers for over 20 years. As one of the most respected and established sports talent agencies, let us show you why thousands of corporations, organizations and non-profits have entrusted Sport Speakers 360 in helping them secure athletes and sports speakers at the best prices. Whether you’re looking for a motivational sports speaker for a sales meeting, a baseball Hall of Famer for a corporate meet & greet or a current football star for a product endorsement, we’ll use our expertise, knowledge of the industry and wealth of contacts to make the process fast, simple and seamless. For information on Bela Karolyi speaking engagements, appearances, and speaking fees, contact a booking agent at Sports Speakers 360 today!
