[ LEGENDS ]
DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM
Olympic gymnastic coach Bela Karolyi talked about the Pacific Alliance Championships during a press conference yesterday. Behind him are USA gymnastics president Bob Colarossi, Hawaii athletic director Herman Frazier and Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona.
Karolyi fires up
everyoneThe Olympic legend is in town
touting an upcoming world-class
gymnastics event
In every Olympic Games, heroes emerge and legends are born.
So it was fitting that charismatic gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi, a living legend, spoke last at a press conference yesterday introducing the Pacific Alliance Championships.
He didn't need the preludes offered by Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona, Hawaii athletic director Herman Frazier and USA gymnastics president Bob Colarossi. Karolyi is recognized globally and rarely needs introduction.
With a double fist pump to open his speech, Karolyi entertained at the governor's podium. He did it all: imploring his audience to live Olympic years with heart and conviction, drawing laughs at stories of his language misunderstandings during his first trip to Hawaii and promising the elite in April.
The Pacific Alliance Championships run April 15-17 at the Stan Sheriff Center. The championships, which will feature more than 200 athletes representing 13 different countries, will be a preview of the Olympics.
"We are so fortunate that in the Pacific Alliance, we're bringing the best," Karolyi said. "We have China, the bronze medalist Australia. We have teams from around the world at the competition so we'll know how we are doing. It's such a great picture, what you're getting. It is very, very important."
So, too, is Karolyi's name, which is known throughout the world. The shaggy-haired coach is one of the most recognized faces of gymnastics. His illustrious 30-year coaching career has produced 28 Olympians, nine Olympic champions and 15 world champions. The names Nadia, Mary Lou and the Magnificent Seven need no explanation because of Karolyi. He is as celebrated as the gymnasts he's coached.
Karolyi has built and rebuilt a USA women's program that took first in last summer's World Gymnastics Championships, the first team victory for the U.S in a world championship. He defected to the U.S. from Romania in 1981 with his wife, Martha, and worked menial jobs before coming back to coaching. His passion and dedication to the sport led to the opening of Karolyi's World of Gymnastics club. He also owns a 2,000-acre ranch in Huntsville, Texas, which is home to the USA women's national team training center.
Karolyi continues to mold the best, and his enthusiasm never seems to waver, though the 62-year-old will be part of his eighth Olympics this summer.
"He's one of the greatest motivators I have ever been in the presence of," USA Gymnastics President Bob Colarossi said. "If you have ever seen him interact with the athletes, you're just in awe. He is so enthusiastic, they'll literally run through walls for him."
"He's so exciting. Just listening to him speak, I got so excited and I'm ready to perform right now," Aiona joked. "I still coach basketball and we have a game tonight and I'm excited now even though our chances of winning are not very good tonight. I'm inspired. We're going to win tonight.
"We're delighted the event is coming to Hawaii. It not only brings together the Pacific Rim countries together, but it brings championship teams together."
It isn't the first time Hawaii will see world-class gymnasts. USA gymnastics came three years ago and the experience left a sweet aftertaste.
"We had such a great experience here in 2001. The hospitality was over the top," Colarossi said. "We couldn't wait to come back here. The location is perfect, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It gives us a chance to have a friendly competition amidst one of the most beautiful backdrops in the world."
