Martha and Bela Karolyi Celebrate 50 Years

Martha and Bela Karolyi Celebrate 50 Years

Nov 4, 2013 by Anne Phillips
Martha and Bela Karolyi Celebrate 50 Years
Bela and Martha Karolyi celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary over the weekend by welcoming many of their former gymnasts to the Ranch. 

Kim Zmeskal-Burdette shared a group photo on Instagram:


Former Karolyi gymnasts who attended the celebration included Mary Lou Retton, Zmeskal-Burdette, Kristie Phillips, Rhonda Faehn, Svetlana Boginskaya, Chelle Stack, Amy Scherr, Paige Spiller, and Erica Stokes. 

Retton also shared a cute photo:

The Karolyis defected to the United States in 1981 and have since become institution in American women's gymnastics. They have transformed the USA women's gymnastics program with frequent National Team training camps at their Ranch outside of Houston, Texas. Martha Karolyi has served as the U.S. Women's National Team coordinator since 2001. 

The Karolyi's impact on USA Gymnastics is continuing to spread as many of their former athletes have found success in coaching. Former Karolyi-coached World All Around Champion Zmeskal-Burdette is the co-owner of Texas Dreams Gymnastics and has produced numerous U.S. National Team members including reigning U.S. Junior National Champion and 2016 Olympic hopeful Bailie Key. 

Former Karolyi gymnasts Brandy Johnson-Scharpf and Kelly Pitzen coach together at Brandy Johnson's Global Gymnastics in Florida with a budding elite group. Johnson's daughter Sydney Johnson-Scharpf even made her elite debut this year and has been attending training camps at the famed Karolyi Ranch. 

On the collegiate scene, Rhonda Faehn, former USA National Vault Champion and World Team member, is the latest coach to win the NCAA team title. Faehn is now in her 12th season as the head coach of the University of Flordia and led the program to their first ever team title in 2013. She has also won the past three SEC Coach of the Year honors. When asked to comment on Faehn, Bela shared that, "she continues to be one of my favorites". 

Related: 
Watch Martha Karoyi videos
Watch Bela Karolyi videos

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