bela karolyi higher age gymnastics - 0 views
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Bela Karolyi, the charismatic coach of the Romanian team and the 1996 US "Magnificent Seven", has been credited with increasing the level of performance while decreasing the average age of the performer.
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The standard was younger, shorter, and skinnier.
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Kerri Strug's career came to a halt after a long struggle with anorexia. In 1991 15-year-old Olympic hopeful Julissa Gomez died after breaking her neck after a misstep on her vault. A fellow gymnast, 15-year-old Christy Henrich, developed anorexia as she struggled to qualify for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. She retired at 18, without a medal, and died last year at 22 weighing less than 50 pounds.
