Bela Karolyi, the embattled yet successful gymnastics coach who helped young women vault to the highest levels of the sport in the Olympics, has died at the age of 82, USA Gymnastics has announced.

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

Late gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi trained legendary Olympic champions such as Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton

Karolyi developed USA Gymnastics into a global force, but his legacy would be tainted by the Larry Nassar scandal

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, 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.

The Romanian-born coach, along with his wife Martha, garnered international recognition for his role in turning Team USA women's gymnastics into the gold medal machine it is today

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

Former Romania and United States coach Bela Karolyi, who trained Nadia Comaneci to become the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 at the Olympics, has died aged 82, USA Gymnastics said late on Saturday.

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.

Karolyi and wife Martha trained multiple Olympic gold medalists and world champions in the US and Romania, including Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton.