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GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

The Legacy of Bela Karolyi

GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

News, Sports News, Biles, Radio, Olympic, Simone, Podcast, Gymnastics, Douglas, Mckayla, Gymnast, Ncaa, Sports, Gymternet, Aly, Raisman, Maroney, Gabby

4.7 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 20 November 2024

⏱️ 91 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

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PORTLAND LIVE SHOW

Bela's Legacy

Bela Karolyi helped usher many gymnasts over decades to the pinnacle of the sport. If medals are the measure of success, few can match his accomplishments. When addressing his legacy, however, it would be irresponsible to ignore the wake of destruction he left behind and the culture he helped cultivate that resulted in the largest sexual abuse scandal in American sports history. Many gymnasts, even those who have shared their own stories of abuse by him, have equally expressed gratitude and admiration. It's possible to recognize his accomplishments while also addressing the physical and emotional scars he left on the sport. We are sensitive to those grieving, but we also feel an obligation to honor those who have suffered by sharing a more complete picture of Bela Karolyi. In an exclusive, we have decided to share the most serious allegation against Bela, which we unearthed in our reporting while scouring the Romanian Secret Police documents. The accusation is of sexual assault. We have redacted the names and specific dates to protect the other individuals involved. At the time, the accuser was a teenager less than half Bela's age. It’s important to note that this document was recorded in the Secret Police files, but it has not been substantiated. With that said the police files corroborated the story from the survivor noting that the accuser confided in two adults, over two separate occasions a year apart. The decision to disclose a sexual assault allegation against Bela is not one taken lightly, especially in the wake of his passing. However, this revelation serves an essential purpose, not only for historical accuracy, but also for societal accountability and justice. Only by confronting uncomfortable truths can we honor the experiences of survivors, learn from systemic failures, and create a safer, more just society. Silence and deference to power have already caused immeasurable harm. It is time to prioritize truth and healing over the preservation of a mythological past.

SEE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT and TRANSLATION HERE

From the National Council for the Study of the Securitate Archives. Document: I 0005189 Volume: 001

 

MORE PROJECT K

Project K: Operation Olympia Project K: Romanian Gymnastics Documents of Abuse, Neglect & Authority Project K: Documents of Alexandrina Comaneci’s Warning Project K: Interview with Nadia & The Secret Police Author Dr. Stejarel Olaru Project K Episode 2: Interview with Nadia & The Secret Police Author Dr. Stejarel Olaru Part Two Chinese and British Trial Chaos, and Project K: Decoding Romanian Secret Police Files on The Karolyis with Dr. Simona Petracovschi

CREDITS: Original Reporting by Jessica O’Beirne and Cosmin Bogdan, freelance journalist. Contributions by Steve Cooper. Translations by Beatrice Gheorghisor and Cosmic Bogdan. Official document transcription and translation by Transperfect.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Yeah, and these are handwritten notes about this one says.

0:04.7

Corolli Bella is used to beat the gymnast on the head, being warned that she should give up this practice as is very damaging and could lead to the loss of their intellectual capacity.

0:15.3

Through his behavior, Coach Corolli Bella has instilled an atmosphere of terror in the gymnastics team.

0:21.7

Thus, none of the members of the team is allowed to talk to people outside the team

0:25.5

to answer the questions they are asked other than in the presence of the coach,

0:29.5

or to say that they are injured, any exception being punished with beating.

0:33.6

Remember, the show is PG-13, so you might hear a naughty word or two.

0:40.2

Tumble Track is having a sale.

0:47.4

TumbleTrak's home holiday sale is on. Everything and anything you need to have a happy, healthy,

0:55.9

fun home, obviously comes with gymnastics products inside your house. So if you need home training equipment, if you need a beam in the living room,

0:57.4

if you need bars in the basement,

0:59.1

if you need a tumbling strip for a hallway

1:02.9

or your front yard,

1:04.0

Tumblrack has it all.

1:05.1

Bars, mats, beams, Air Force,

1:06.8

those little hotspot things

1:08.2

so you can vault over the couch.

1:09.7

I'm not recommending it.

1:10.6

I'm just saying that's what I did my entire youth. And so TumbleTrak can make it safer than what

1:15.9

it was when we just used the jogging trampoline. Visit TumbleTrac at T-U-M-B-L-T-R-A-K-TumlTorac.com.

1:24.3

Train Smart. Today, we have a lot to tell you about we have lots of signings we have the

1:31.0

gymternet news and infamous coach bella caroli has died at the age of 82 we are going to dive into

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