Feel No Fear: The Power, Passion, and Politics of a Life in Gymnastics [Hardcover]

Bela Karolyi (Author), Nancy Ann Richardson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1994

The charismatic coach of gymnastic stars including Nadia Comanec and Mary Lou Retton chronicles his life and career, from troubles with Romanian secret police, through his decision to defect, to his fight for better gymnastics in the United States.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Karolyi, renowned coach of women gymnasts, revolutionized the sport in both his native Rumania and his adoptive United States, producing popular champions in each country--Nadia Comaneci in Europe and Mary Lou Retton in America. Karolyi's innovations involved two elements: he emphasized athletic skill, rather than aesthetics and he showed that female gymnasts could be developed at ages six and seven, far younger than had previously seemed possible. In his work he had to battle not only jealous fellow coaches but also Communist Party functionaries in Rumania and bureaucratic officials and judges in this country. Indeed, Karolyi became so disillusioned after the selection of the U.S. Olympic team in 1992 that he left big-time coaching. Freelancer Richardson helps him to convey the passion he feels about his sport and his drive for excellence. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Karolyi, born in the beautiful Transylvanian mountains, leads off his autobiography by observing, "I never knew Dracula." His book gives magnificent insight into the man whom Time magazine named "the world's most famous gymnastics coach." A chapter titled, "Why Me?" portrays the heart and soul of what a coach is (or should be) all about. Karolyi, the guiding force behind the legendary Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton, was a coaching legend at age 40. He is a man who stood up for his beliefs and his gymnasts by confronting Romania's secret police, unjust Olympic judges, and the politics of American gymnastics. This motivational book will appeal to readers interested in sports and its effects upon young athletes. Highly recommended.
Albert Spencer, Coll. of Education, Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 239 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Books; 1st edition (May 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078686012X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786860128
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #235,380 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Powerful Book, May 11, 2004

By 

Elisabeth "Gymfan15" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Feel No Fear: The Power, Passion, and Politics of a Life in Gymnastics (Hardcover)

This book was written by Bela Karolyi, the Romanian coach who has coached such gymnastics legends as Nadia Cominici, Mary Lou Retton, Kim Zmeskal, Dominique Moceanu and Kerri Strug.

This book tells you about his life in Romania, training Nadia, defecting to America, and all the way to the 1992 Olympics.

Before I didn't know much about Bela or about the girls he had trained. But after reading this book, I now know much more about him and his wife, Marta.

If you want to know more about this memorable coach, be sure to read this book!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one of the GREATEST gymnastics books EVER written!, May 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Feel No Fear: The Power, Passion, and Politics of a Life in Gymnastics (Paperback)

It tells the entire story of Bela Karolyi's life and it tells the stories of the many famous gymnasts he has coached. The book makes you appreciate this man more than anything else could! I read it before I met him at Karolyi's camp and it made it THAT MUCH better!!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true inspiration, November 15, 1998

By 

"miss_faye" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Feel No Fear: The Power, Passion, and Politics of a Life in Gymnastics (Paperback)

I have read this book a while back. However, I often refer to it for the inspiration, and sometimes quote it to my students (I am a figure skating coach). Bela is a legendary coach, and it was interesting to find out about his coaching, and life philosophies. I hope I could be like him one day. The part of the book that especially moved me is when Bela found out that more than half of his students became p.e. teachers.