Feel No Fear: The Power, Passion, and Politics of a Life in Gymnastics - Softcover

Karolyi, Bela; Richardson, Nancy Ann

3.83

109 ratings by Goodreads

9780786880201: Feel No Fear: The Power, Passion, and Politics of a Life in Gymnastics

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0786880201 ISBN 13: 9780786880201

Publisher: Hyperion, 1996

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The controversial gymnastics coach shares his own personal story of a life in gymnastics, detailing his career in his communist homeland, clashes with Romanian secret police, defection, and work with such stars as Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton. Reprint.

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From Booklist:

Sports fans in the U.S. deify successful coaches. We exaggerate their virtues and downplay their foibles as long as they win. From Knute Rockne to Bobby Knight to Mike Ditka to Dean Smith, we have ascribed to the top coaches in the marquee sports a wisdom that transcends the playing field. Compare those names to Romanian gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi, however, and they come up a little short. Karolyi revolutionized the gymnastics world with such athletes as Nadia Comaneci, Mary Lou Retton, and Kim Szmeskal, and he did so against overwhelming odds. It makes a great story, and this captivating autobiography tells it well. Karolyi and his wife, Marta--to whom he credits much of his success--began their careers in a small Romanian mining town that offered no organized sports. They started a gymnastics program with no facilities and makeshift equipment and soon were competing successfully against larger communities and established athletic clubs. It sounds like they would have been heroes, right? Not in Communist Romania. Their reward for success was ceaseless battling with both the labyrinthine bureaucracy and numerous jealous rivals for funding, respect, and objective judging. In 1982, the Karolyis came to America. Despite their international success, they had to start all over financially and professionally. Again they triumphed. This is a wonderful mix of love story, cold war drama, and Rocky-like heartwarmer, and it's related with humor and passion. Highly recommended. Wes Lukowsky

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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