Do you think that Bela Karolyi only thinks the American gymnastics athletes are the best and other are trash ?

Question

Do you think that Bela Karolyi only thinks the American gymnastics athletes are the best and other are trash ?

Answer 1

Absolutely not.  I do think he's biased towards the Americans (with good reason!), but he recognizes the world-class talents of all the gymnasts on the floor.  Is he an emotional man?  Well, certainly, and that colours his comments.  But honestly--are Liukin and Johnson currently the best gymnasts?  According to how I watched the routines--yes.  In general, they had the fewest flaws and mistakes, and in some cases had the highest start values.  For Karolyi to be supportive of them simply makes sense.

The question of Sacramone on the vault is a more subjective one.  I admit that I disagreed with the judges' verdicts on that one, but I am not sure that I would label it a "rip-off" as Karolyi did.  I would have to take more time to analyze the performances.

Answer 2

Well, he said that the Romanian gymnast who won floor deserved it so he's not 100% biased.

Answer 3

No

Answer 4

I don't think he is like that. But he was the US coach for lots of years and his wife is still coaching the US so he is a very good fan of the US gymnasts. I saw him get emotional about Luikin or other who had lost because of the tied score.  He really is into the US team and gives it all for them.  But he also talks good about other countries' gymnasts when they do good.

Answer 5

I think Bela is in a position to see the corruption in the sport. eg: Chinese 14 year olds in competition with American girls who follow the age 16 rule. He said that like China, many of the Soviet block nations got away with faking age documentation on Olympic athletes for years. He CHOSE to come to USA because he felt that gymnasts get the best training and acolades.

He has a right to his opinions and voice them. He does know what he's talking about. He doesn't feel Americans are superior genetically. And they're not.

Answer 6

He's the best in his field of knowledge, he doesn't say anything that's not true, or at least in his honest opinion.  When you see injustice after injustice as in these games, it takes a toll on you...and he clearly broke down finally and just had to say what needed to be said.