Wednesday, January 10, 2001
Tracy agrees with Karolyi's departure
But has no animosity for ex-coordinator of U.S. gymnastics
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Mary Lee Tracy is not one of Bela Karolyi's detractors in the U.S. gymnastics community, but she agrees it was time for him to go as the national coordinator of the women's team.
Karolyi, who led the U.S. team to a disappointing fourth-place finish at the Sydney Olympics, stepped down as coordinator Monday.
“I get along with Bela,” Tracy said. “But the prob lem in Sydney was the inability to work together. We were like a dysfunctional family. No one person was to blame, but things had to change.”
Tracy, the owner of Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy, was a U.S. assistant coach in Sydney. But she stepped down when Morgan White, the one U.S. competitor from CGA, withdrew with an injury.
Marta Karolyi is expected to replace her husband as coordinator. Marta, the coach of the 1996 U.S. team that won gold, received the majority of votes from other elite coaches to replace Bela. USA Gymnastics executive director Bob Colarossi must approve the hire.
“I think she'll be very good,” Tracy said.
Marta, unlike Bela, is like ly to be willing to cede power to personal coaches.
“You have to give the personal coaches control,” Tracy said. “They see the gymnasts day to day. You can't have a dictatorship.”
Bela couldn't function without being a dictator.
Tracy has three gymnasts in line to compete for spots on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team: White, 17, Sam Sheehan, 14, and Haiya Rodriguez, 12. Tracy expects the 2004 team to be strong.
“Marta was a big part of Bela's success,” Tracy said. “We're very excited. We need someone with the expertise who doesn't need the publicity.”
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Tracy agrees with Karolyi's departure