Where are Bela and Marta Karolyi and what happened to their training Ranch? Everything about the former US Gymnastics coaches recent life

Bela and Marta Karolyi are arguably one of the most successful gymnastics coaches in history, and most controversial as well. Following the unfolding of the Larry Nasar scandal, and many accusations of ‘abuse’ from the gymnasts they had trained, the couple left the United States and went back to Romania. Except for an interview from 2021 where Marta explained her side of the story in detail, the world hasn't heard from the Romanin-origin couple.

The Larry Nassar Scandal also involved Bela and Marta Karolyi’s Ranch, US Gymnastics' former training site, where Olympic medalists such as Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles have also trained. The site, a 1687-acre property, was purchased by Voyager Group LTD for $6,00,000 in 2021, as per KPCR 2 Investigates.

Karolyi's started their gymnastics coaching in Romania with Bella debuting as an international coach in 1974. He coached multiple Olympic Medalist Nadia Comaneci, who was the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 in the Olympic Games.

Bela and Marta Karolyi defected to the United States following the 1980 Olympic Games after the former clashed with Romanian officials. They bought the training site, which came to be known as Karolyi Ranch, in 1981. With their achievements of coaching successful Olympic gymnasts like Comaneci, the Ranch soon began to attract American gymnasts and by the 2010s, it had become one the most successful gymnastics centers in the world.

It was designated as a U.S. Olympic Training Site in 2011, and five years later in 2016, USA Gymnastics announced plans to purchase the gymnastics-related facilities from the Ranch. However, the $3 million deal was called off in 2017 following the Larry Nassar scandal, and the property was purchased by Voyager Group LTD in June 2021.

What are the allegations against Bela and Marta Karolyi?

2016 U.S. Olympic Trials - Women's Gymnastics - Day 2

Bela and Marta Karolyi have been accused of sadistic training methods. They had a very strict diet plan at the Karolyi Ranch, where the former U.S. Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar is alleged to have taken advantage of gymnasts by offering food to them.

Nadia Comaneci, who was the first big international success of the former Romanian and American national team coaches', also accused Bela Karolyi of serious physical and emotional abuse. She claimed in her book that she was slapped twice and starved for nearly three straight days.

Karolyi was also accused of abuse dating back as long as 1960. He is alleged to have regularly starved gymnasts, who later had to ‘eat toothpaste at night before going to bed’.

“Starving the gymnasts was a regular practice by the Karolyis,” wrote Dr Stejarel Olaru in the book ' Nadia Comaneci and the Secret Police'.

Moreover, the book alleged that Bela Karolyi ate in front of the starving gymnasts.