Bela Karolyi
Coach of Gold-Medal Winning U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team. NBC's Olympic Correspondent
Bela Karolyi reprises his role as a primetime correspondent for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. He worked in the same capacity with NBC Olympics at the 2012 London Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics. A gymnastics coaching legend, Karolyi is one of the most recognized personalities in the sport and has trained world-renowned gymnasts for numerous…
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Bela Karolyi reprises his role as a primetime correspondent for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. He worked in the same capacity with NBC Olympics at the 2012 London Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics.
A gymnastics coaching legend, Karolyi is one of the most recognized personalities in the sport and has trained world-renowned gymnasts for numerous Olympics. Karolyi began his illustrious career coaching for the Romanian national team starting in the early 1960’s, bringing the Romanian women’s gymnastics team into the international spotlight. On his team was Nadia Comaneci, a young gymnast who astounded the world by achieving the first perfect scores at the Montreal Olympic Games in 1976.
In 1981, he brought the Romanian team to the United States for an exhibition tour, but decided to remain in the United States and requested political asylum. With Karolyi coaching in the United States, the American gymnastics program began to reflect his dynamic approach. Karolyi coached four U.S. Olympic teams from 1984 to 1996 and served as the national team coordinator for the 2000 USA Olympic Gymnastics Team In 1996, Karolyi’s “magnificent seven,” captured the Olympic gold in the Women’s Team Competition in a dynamic, captivating and dramatic final. Through a courageous final performance, Kerri Strug, though injured, still performed a vault and anchored the gold for Team USA.
In 1997, Karolyi was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame and Texas Sports Hall of Fame. In addition to coaching, Karolyi co-authored Mary Lou: Creating an Olympic Champion, with John Powers and Mary Lou Retton in 1984. Ten years later, Karolyi wrote a personal memoir, Feel No Fear: the Power, Passion, and Politics of a Life in Gymnastics with Nancy Ann Richardson.
Karolyi and his wife Martha reside at their 2,000-acre ranch outside of Houston, where they have trained over 3,000 gymnasts at their famous Karolyi’s Gymnastics Summer Camp.
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LITTLE RIVER BAND OF OTTAWA INDIANS
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MEDTRONIC
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UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY
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BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
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SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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SAP COMPANY
Thank you again, Dr. Kimbrough, for a great presentation, our attendees are still talking about it!
CAMPUS LABS
Dr. Henry Lee's presentation was entertaining, insightful and wise. I, and everyone at Pfizer, especially appreciate the remarks you directed about following your passion and preparing yourself to excel. Thank you, everyone, at PDA for helping to make this happen!
PFIZER
The event was successful! I received many messages expressing how awesome, outstanding and inspiring Ms. Webb-Christburg's speech was."
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL BREAKFAST, BOSTON, MLK SPEAKER
Everything went well. Atsuko was very easy to work with and the students enjoyed her performance! Thank you again for your recommendation and I hope to work with you again in the future!
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Dr. Novello left this morning after a very successful event on our campus! Thank you PDA Group for your help from the first phone to the last you were with us every step of the way.
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Jordan Carlos was very very entertaining! A majority of students who answered the event survey indicated they really enjoyed Jordan and definitely will bring him back!
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
On behalf of myself and my organization Entertainment Unlimited the Campus Programming Board of Ferris State University, we thank you PDA and Dan for a successful event!! Dan was magnificent! Students really enjoyed the presentation. I know I did. Can't wait to bring in more programs with PDA Group.
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
It was a great pleasure to work with PDA Group! The communication was always prompt, friendly and helpful. We loved the speakers and events we booked through Mr. Peter Walker (PDA Group).
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Thank you, Peter, for all your help, you'll be happy to know that the event went incredibly well! Aneesa Ferreira was by far one of the best speakers we've ever had!
FURMAN UNIVERSITY
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