The system they developed in Romania, they were given permission to create an experimental school in Onesti in the Carpathian Mountains, where - Nadia Comaneci was from, which was really lucky - but anyway, they created this centralized model where the gymnasts kind of trained a lot without distraction and where the real priority was on sports and all the other things were kind of secondary.Īnd of course they have a ranch in Texas which has become somewhat of a mecca for elite gymnasts, right? Tell us about the system the Karolyis developed in Romania and eventually exported to the U.S. Deep down making Marta happy is what a lot of these girls are after. But she's also, I mean the girls really respect her. Now, technically, there are two other people on the committee that decides who makes these teams, but I think most people recognize that Marta's voice is the loudest in the room and the most important - like the team that she really wants is generally the one that gets selected. Well, officially, she runs the national team training camps, where once a month all of the top gymnasts in the United States are trained and observed and she gives out these international assignments. Can you describe her role in the sport today? Marta Karolyi is officially the national team coordinator for USA Gymnastics. She spoke with NPR's All Things Considered. in 1981 and have helped transform the American women into the world's best.Īuthor Dvora Meyers has written about the Karolyis in her book The End of the Perfect 10: The Making and Breaking of Gymnastics' Top Score from Nadia to Now. ![]() They first rose to prominence in their native Romania where they trained the country's first wave of superstar gymnasts, including Nadia Comaneci, who scored the sport's first perfect 10 and took gold at the 1976 Olympics. She and her husband, Bela, have been towering figures in the world of gymnastics since the 1970s. It's fitting that the current team has nicknamed itself the "Final Five," a tribute to leader Marta Karolyi, 73, who is stepping down after the Rio Games. But they have now captured the team title at the last two Olympics, and American women have won the individual all-around at the last four Summer Games. The American women didn't win their first team gold until 1996. ![]() This wasn't traditionally a sport the U.S. The Americans won the team gold on Tuesday, and Simone Biles and Aly Raisman took gold and silver in the individual all-around on Thursday. And we're not talking about their crystal-studded leotards. women gymnasts have dazzled all week in Rio. She is stepping down after the Rio Games. Karolyi, 73, is widely credited with helping make the U.S. Marta Karolyi, the national team coordinator for USA Gymnastics, looks at the scoreboard along with (from right) Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas during the women's qualification on Sunday.
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