What's next for US gymnastics in the post-K谩rolyi era?
On Tuesday night, the United States Women鈥檚 Gymnastics team in a stunning victory at the team all-around competition, finishing a full eight points ahead of silver medal winner Russia.
The team, previously known as the Fierce Five, has dubbed themselves the Final Five 鈥� in part because it is in the 2020 games the teams will be limited to just four members, but also because after 40 years in the sport and coaching 11 Olympic teams, Rio is their coach聽.
鈥淲e always look for her, always,鈥� Gabby Douglas, the 2012 Olympic champion in the all-around, told the New York Times on Tuesday. 鈥淏ecause .鈥�
Despite being known for being tough and unsentimental, Ms.聽K谩rolyi聽has said that the 2016 Rio team, consisting of Madison Kocian, Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, and Laurie Hernandez, is the best she has ever coached and was unusually emotional after winning the gold.
鈥淔rom my nature, I鈥檓 really not a sentimental person, honestly,鈥� K谩rolyi聽told the New York Times after Tuesday鈥檚 win. 鈥淚鈥檓 known for being very tough. So I felt, 鈥極h, what鈥檚 happening to me? What is this?鈥欌��
K谩rolyi聽started as a coach in Romania, before moving the the United States in 1981. She and Bela, her husband and fellow gymnastics coach, have coached Nadia Com膬neci, Mary Lou Retton, Kim Zmeskal, and Kerri Strug, some of the most decorated gymnasts in the world in the 1980s and 90s.
In 2001, she took over as the national team coordinator for the women's team. In this role K谩rolyi聽did not just lead the United States to victory time and time again throughout her years as coach, but changed the way gymnasts in America train.
The couple started a gymnastics training camp at their ranch north of Houston. There, she and national team staff would host week-long training sessions once each month to evaluate the top gymnasts in the country. While the gymnasts retained their private coaches for the majority of their training, K谩rolyi聽had an eye for picking out the little details that would vastly improve an individual鈥檚 performance.
This system the K谩rolyis聽created united gymnasts and coaches from across the country and created a sense of community that was not there previously.
鈥淚 think the training camps are key,鈥� Aly Raisman, three-time Olympics gold medal winner and team captain told the New York Times. 鈥淚t鈥檚 where we are evaluated and compared to each other, in a healthy way. We wouldn鈥檛 be here without that system.鈥�
After her retirement, the as a training center and although neither of the K谩rolyis聽will be managing it, Martha admits she will likely stop by from time to time to see how things are going.
鈥淚 am that we have created and the success of our women鈥檚 program for the past 15 years,鈥� she told USA Today. 鈥淚t is the right time for Bela and me to enjoy the other things in life while still remaining connected to USA Gymnastics through the ongoing activities at the ranch.鈥�
In retirement, K谩rolyi聽plans to return to her native Romania, spending several months there each year.
"," her husband told the Houston Chronicle. "We are both 74 years old. After this, she deserves to have a joyous and smooth and lovely rest of her life."
