Bela Karolyi, one of the United States' most eminent gymnastics coaches alongside wife Márta, has died at age 82, a spokesperson for USA Gymnastics said Saturday evening.

Bela Karolyi, the legendary and controversial Romanian American gymnastics coach who helped lead Mary Lou Retton, Nadia Comaneci and Kerri Strug to Olympic gold, has died, USA Gymnastics announced. He was 82.

Former American and Romanian gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi died on Friday at age 82, according to USA Gymnastics. Karolyi and his wife, Martha

Bela Karolyi, the charismatic if polarizing gymnastics coach who turned young women into champions and the United States into an international power in the sport, has died. He was 82. USA Gymnastics said Karolyi died Friday.

Bela Karolyi coached came to the U,S, from Romania after leading Nadia Comanecia to an Olympic gold and established a gym in Houston area.

Bela Karolyi, the famed gymnastics coach who defected from Romania and turned USA Gymnastics into a dominating force, has died.

Bela Karolyi and his wife, Martha, defected to the U.S. in 1981 and trained multiple Olympic gold medalists and world champions in the U.S. and Romania, including Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton.

Bela Karolyi, who coached gymnasts with his wife, Martha, for 30-plus years, including Olympic all-around gold medalists Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton, and whose training methods some pupils said went too far,

Karolyi and his wife, Martha, cultivated champions in Romania and the United States throughout their 30-year career. Some gymnasts said he used harsh tactics.

Bela Karolyi, who led Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton to Olympic gold and revolutionized the sport of gymnastics, only to see his legacy destroyed by allegations of abusive coaching, has died. He was 82.