HEAVY MEDALS Part 5: The Karolyi Way

30 for 30 Podcasts

ESPN

Sports

4.5 • 9.7K Ratings

🗓️ 14 July 2020

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

After the glory of winning gold in Atlanta, the U.S. National Team slips on the world stage, finishing last in the finals at the 1999 World Championships. With the next Olympics less than a year away, USA Gymnastics turns to the one person they think can save the team: Bela Karolyi. Bela finally has what he’s always wanted, control over a semi-centralized training system in the United States. But on such a tight schedule, will the, “You can do it!” motivator-in-chief be able to lead a team to victory? If you or someone you know has been subjected to sexual assault or abuse, and you would like more information or support, these hotlines can help: RAINN's 24/7 confidential national sexual assault hotline: 1-800-656-4673, or ChildHelp: 1-800-4-A-Child. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	A word of warning. This episode contains mature language to
0:05.4	depict instances of sexual, physical and or emotional abuse of children.
0:19.6	Pretty much been disastrous here for the Americans on Dean.
0:22.5	Well it's very different than it was last year in Atlanta. Their performance tonight is not about medals but about regaining some respect.
0:28.5	Oh! She missed a connection right there!
0:31.4	Boy, would you talk about meltdown?
0:34.3	Well this is tough to watch. High hopes for the American team not only here at the Worlds but of course next year's Olympics.
0:41.1	And the United States, you have to say it at disappointing sixth.
0:47.8	This is episode 5, the Corroly Way.
0:52.9	Remember over here in the coaches talking about us and how awful we were.
0:59.0	If you're not winning, you're losing and you're a piece of shit basically. That's how they made you feel.
1:05.9	Jeanette Ancelin was a gymnast on the 1999 US World Championship team.
1:11.4	A team that finished sixth of six teams in the final.
1:15.1	We were the worst national team they had ever had and we were the biggest disappointment.
1:21.3	Very disappointing effort by the US. They seemed to lack intensity and focus.
1:25.6	In the three short years since Bella and Marta Corroly had retired, US age gymnastics had gone from a team
1:32.1	gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games to mediocrity on the world stage. This was bad news for a federation that
1:39.8	depended on sponsors. And no single event brought in sponsorship money like the Olympics.
1:46.0	With the next Olympics just 10 months away, new US age gymnastics president Bob Colorassi
1:52.4	turned to the most recognizable name in gymnastics. Bella Corroly.
1:57.7	After the World Championships, Colorassi went to the ranch and said, okay, what will it take for you to do this?
2:03.5	Nancy Armour is a columnist for USA Today. She's covered gymnastics for more than 20 years.
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