TICKETS ON SALE NOW PORTLAND LIVE SHOW Bela's Legacy

Bela Karolyi helped usher many gymnasts over decades to the pinnacle of the sport. If medals are the measure of success, few can match his accomplishments. When addressing his legacy, however, it would be irresponsible to ignore the wake of destruction he left behind and the culture he helped cultivate that resulted in the largest sexual abuse scandal in American sports history. Many gymnasts, even those who have shared their own stories of abuse by him, have equally expressed gratitude and admiration. It's possible to recognize his accomplishments while also addressing the physical and emotional scars he left on the sport. We are sensitive to those grieving, but we also feel an obligation to honor those who have suffered by sharing a more complete picture of Bela Karolyi. In an exclusive, we have decided to share the most serious allegation against Bela, which we unearthed in our reporting while scouring the Romanian Secret Police documents. The accusation is of sexual assault. We have redacted the names and specific dates to protect the other individuals involved. At the time, the accuser was a teenager less than half Bela's age. It’s important to note that this document was recorded in the Secret Police files, but it has not been substantiated. With that said the police files corroborated the story from the survivor noting that the accuser confided in two adults, over two separate occasions a year apart. The decision to disclose a sexual assault allegation against Bela is not one taken lightly, especially in the wake of his passing. However, this revelation serves an essential purpose, not only for historical accuracy, but also for societal accountability and justice. Only by confronting uncomfortable truths can we honor the experiences of survivors, learn from systemic failures, and create a safer, more just society. Silence and deference to power have already caused immeasurable harm. It is time to prioritize truth and healing over the preservation of a mythological past.

SEE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT and TRANSLATION HERE

From the National Council for the Study of the Securitate Archives. Document: I 0005189 Volume: 001

 

MORE PROJECT K

Project K: Operation Olympia Project K: Romanian Gymnastics Documents of Abuse, Neglect & Authority Project K: Documents of Alexandrina Comaneci’s Warning Project K: Interview with Nadia & The Secret Police Author Dr. Stejarel Olaru Project K Episode 2: Interview with Nadia & The Secret Police Author Dr. Stejarel Olaru Part Two Chinese and British Trial Chaos, and Project K: Decoding Romanian Secret Police Files on The Karolyis with Dr. Simona Petracovschi

CREDITS: Original Reporting by Jessica O’Beirne and Cosmin Bogdan, freelance journalist. Contributions by Steve Cooper. Translations by Beatrice Gheorghisor and Cosmic Bogdan. Official document transcription and translation by Transperfect.

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RELATED

• • The Karolyi Secret Police Files
  • Olympic coach John Geddert criminal charges and death
  • Doug Boger:
    • OC Register: Doug Boger banned
    • Story on Colorado resident, Doug Boger: "Gymnasts Accuse Colorado Coach Of Sex Abuse, Torture"
    • GymCastic episode Preventing Abuse in Gymnastics
  • Episode where we predict the future: Biggest Olympic Judging Scandals 
  • Find all our recent episodes here
  • Behind The Scenes: every Friday find them all here
    • Behind The Scenes: GOAT Tour & Jordan's Swiss Appeal

COMMISSIONED EPISODES

• • The FluffCast
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PORTLAND LIVE SHOW HALL OF SHAME

• Update about Monica Phelps and her banned, pedophile husband
• Sexually inappropriate comments about minors: Nope.
• Sexually inappropriate comments about adults: Double nope.
• Infantilizing adults and calling them little girls: Triple nope.
• Weight Shaming: The Monica Phelps Chapter
• Being weirdly obsessed with adoption: The Al Trautwig Chapter
• Tragic moments in college commentary
• Tragic moments in putting on accents

GYMCASTIC'S OFFICIAL BROADCAST DOs and DON'Ts

• 18 Dos and (mostly) Don'ts for gymnastics broadcasts concerning comparing gymnasts to dented cars, being the smile police, "Bela's girls," and talking about a gymnast's "personality."

BANNED WORDS AND PHRASES

• From "supple" to "weight" to "international look" to "ancient" to "4 inches wide," we have some words and phrases that are hereby banned from gymnastics commentary.
• The most important message for any commentator to reiterate before they begin broadcasts re smashing the patriarchy for the witches they couldn't burn.

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  • Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store

RELATED

• • Nellie Kim Code episode 
  • Support Donnell Whittenburg's coach, Anthony Ingrelli here
  • Olympic coach John Geddert criminal charges and death
  • Doug Boger:
    • OC Register: Doug Boger banned
    • Story on Colorado resident, Doug Boger: "Gymnasts Accuse Colorado Coach Of Sex Abuse, Torture"
    • GymCastic episode Preventing Abuse in Gymnastics
  • The Karolyi Secret Police Files
  • Episode where we predict the future: Biggest Olympic Judging Scandals 
  • Unionize and Profit Share: The Money Game LSU Docuseries
  • Find all our recent episodes here
  • Behind The Scenes: every Friday find them all here
    • Behind The Scenes: GOAT Tour & Jordan's Swiss Appeal

COMMISSIONED EPISODES

• • The FluffCast
  • Gymnastics Dumest Rules 
  • GymKata starring Kurt Thomas
  • A Quitters Try: The CNN Parkettes Documentary 
  • The Leotard Episode
  • Uncle Tim's Mythbusters
  • Find them all here

Director Katie Walsh is back to answer your questions about the making of the Simone Biles Rising documentary and talk about what it was like to be on the floor filming during the Paris Olympic Games.

This episode was recorded October 30th in our weekly Behind The Scenes episode where Club Gym Nerd members asked questions live or afterwards on their favorite podcast player.

Behind The Scenes is a weekly live Q&A podcast and post-meet live exclusive. It's all part of the bonus content for our Club Members who support our work year around.

Last live show of the year! Tickets on sale soon. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified first.

Add all the exclusive Club Gym Nerd bonus content to your favorite podcast player -  instructions here. Not a member? Join here.

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!). It includes:

• Weekly Q&A  Behind The Scenes podcast, dedications, mini-commissions , group commissions, exclusive extended interviews, and College & Cocktails episodes. Plus discounts and first dibs on Live Show tickets and merch.
• Exclusive VIP section on the message board Forum
• More goodies:
  • GymCastic newsletters 
  • 2024 College & Cocktails menu (including mocktails, of course)
  • GymCastic Fantasy Games
  • GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even “tapestries” (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast!
  • Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store

COMMISSIONED EPISODES

• The FluffCast
• Gymnastics Dumest Rules 
• GymKata starring Kurt Thomas
• A Quitters Try: The CNN Parkettes Documentary 
• The Leotard Episode
• Uncle Tim's Mythbusters
• The 1992 Barcelona Olympics with Wendy Bruce
• Find them all here

This week: Absolutely everything about the final two episodes of the Netflix docuseries, Simone Biles Rising. Plus lots of audio clips of Simone's interview Q&A from the premier in Hollywood that Jessica attended last week (all the details on the premier on Behind The Scenes here). No big deal, but Jessica is in the last two episodes. We also discuss the FIG election news and some Halloween-worthy gymnastics horror stories thanks to that Hart to Hart's gymnast-cat-burglar-cruise-ship-bar-routine tv episode we talked about last week.

Our final live show of the year will be in Portland, Oregon in December! Details coming soon! Club Gym Nerd members will get early access to tickets and a discount.  

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!). It includes:

• • Weekly Q&A  Behind The Scenes podcast, dedications, mini-commissions , group commissions, exclusive extended interviews, and College & Cocktails episodes. Plus discounts and first dibs on Live Show tickets and merch.
  • Exclusive VIP section on the message board Forum
• More goodies:
  • GymCastic newsletters 
  • 2024 College & Cocktails menu (including mocktails, of course)
  • GymCastic Fantasy Games
  • GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even “tapestries” (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast!
  • Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store

RELATED

• • Nellie Kim Code episode 
  • Support Donnell Whittenburg's coach, Anthony Ingrelli here
  • Doug Boger:
    • OC Register: Doug Boger banned
    • Story on Colorado resident, Doug Boger: "Gymnasts Accuse Colorado Coach Of Sex Abuse, Torture"
    • GymCastic episode Preventing Abuse in Gymnastics
  • The Karolyi Secret Police Files
  • Episode where we predict the future: Biggest Olympic Judging Scandals 
  • Unionize and Profit Share: The Money Game LSU Docuseries
  • Find all our recent episodes here
  • Behind The Scenes: every Friday find them all here
    • Behind The Scenes: GOAT Tour & Jordan's Swiss Appeal

COMMISSIONED EPISODES

• • The FluffCast
  • Gymnastics Dumest Rules 
  • GymKata starring Kurt Thomas
  • A Quitters Try: The CNN Parkettes Documentary 
  • The Leotard Episode
  • Uncle Tim's Mythbusters
  • Find them all here

This week: we discuss the gymnastics revenge horror short, "Stuck"; Simone's tour blooper; Jessica is going to the Simone Biles Rising documentary Premier this week; journalist Alina Alexoi has been suspended from European Gymnastics and the Romanian Gymnastics Federation (details here); FIG faces mass resignation in Parkour and lots of technical committee Presidents running unopposed; there are subjective judging problems in every ball sport, so don't let anyone tell you gymnastics is "a subjective sport"; should judges be able to watch replays at will; the time an acro world championship was almost lost after a judge incorrectly input the digital scores; college gymnastics commit updates; the most exciting meets on the NCAA schedule for 2025; the most ridiculous gymnastics episode of TV: Hart to Hart's gymnastics cat burglar cruise ship bar routine.   

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!). It includes:

• • Weekly Q&A  Behind The Scenes podcast, dedications, mini-commissions , group commissions, exclusive extended interviews, and College & Cocktails episodes. Plus discounts and first dibs on Live Show tickets and merch.
  • Exclusive VIP section on the message board Forum
• More goodies:
  • GymCastic newsletters 
  • 2024 College & Cocktails menu (including mocktails, of course)
  • GymCastic Fantasy Games
  • GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even “tapestries” (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast!
  • Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store

RELATED

• • The Karolyi Secret Police Files
  • Episode where we predict the future: Biggest Olympic Judging Scandals 
  • Unionize and Profit Share: The Money Game LSU Docuseries
  • Behind The Scenes: every Friday find them all here
    • Behind The Scenes: GOAT Tour & Jordan's Swiss Appeal

COMMISSIONED EPISODES

• • The FluffCast
  • Gymnastics Dumest Rules 
  • GymKata starring Kurt Thomas
  • A Quitters Try: The CNN Parkettes Documentary 
  • The Leotard Episode
  • Uncle Tim's Mythbusters
  • Find them all here

• Mini-Commission on the Karolyi's and why they've never faced consequences
• When Beyonce met Suni
• Major NCAA news: no more letters of intent and Florida is getting everybody
• Vanessa Ferrari retirement
• Florida racks up the commitments
  • Plus other signings
• And a Letter Extravaganza! We read through all your letters covering...
  • Simone / Skinner beef
  • Suggested changes for the Chinese team
  • More bronze controversy feedback and thoughts
  • The modesty of a $10,000 leotard
  • Diuretics in Gymnastics
  • 2016 Highest Scoring Team–Ashton over Gabby
  • Bros talking about women sports
  • Christianity in Gymnastics
  • The changing age narrative
  • VPNs
  • Hacking the pommel horse dismount
  • How to Become a Career Coach
  • Why doesn't Simone dominate on uneven bars?

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!). It includes:

• • Weekly Q&A  Behind The Scenes podcast, dedications, mini-commissions , group commissions, exclusive extended interviews, and College & Cocktails episodes. Plus discounts and first dibs on Live Show tickets and merch.
  • Exclusive VIP section on the message board Forum
• More goodies:
  • GymCastic newsletters 
  • 2024 College & Cocktails menu (including mocktails, of course)
  • GymCastic Fantasy Games
  • GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even “tapestries” (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast!
  • Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store

RELATED

• The Karolyi Secret Police Files
• Episode where we predict the future: Biggest Olympic Judging Scandals 
• Unionize and Profit Share: The Money Game LSU Docuseries
• Behind The Scenes: every Friday find them all here
  • Behind The Scenes: GOAT Tour & Jordan's Swiss Appeal

COMMISSIONED EPISODES

• • The FluffCast
  • Gymnastics Dumest Rules 
  • GymKata starring Kurt Thomas
  • A Quitters Try: The CNN Parkettes Documentary 
  • The Leotard Episode
  • Uncle Tim's Mythbusters
  • Find them all here

This week: All the gymternet news; Szombathely World Cup of artistry dominance and B dismounts; a mini-commission on the best and worst college for everything but gymnastics rankings; and Jessica watched the first two episodes of "The Money Game," a docuseries on the LSU NIL system and their top athlete earners. 

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!). It includes:

• • Weekly Q&A  Behind The Scenes podcast, dedications, mini-commissions , group commissions, exclusive extended interviews, and College & Cocktails episodes. Plus discounts and first dibs on Live Show tickets and merch.
  • Exclusive VIP section on the message board Forum
• More goodies:
  • GymCastic newsletters 
  • 2024 College & Cocktails menu (including mocktails, of course)
  • GymCastic Fantasy Games
  • GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even “tapestries” (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast!
  • Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store

RELATED EPISODES

• Behind The Scenes: every Friday find them all here
• Behind The Scenes: GOAT Tour & Jordan's Swiss Appeal
• All About Aly Raisman
• Battle Amanar
• Vault Funerals, Brandy Johnson and the gymternet news

COMMISSIONED EPISODES

• • The FluffCast
  • Gymnastics Dumest Rules 
  • GymKata starring Kurt Thomas
  • A Quitters Try: The CNN Parkettes Documentary 
  • The Leotard Episode
  • Uncle Tim's Mythbusters
  • Find them all here

All about the legend, Dominique Dawes. How was she treated by the media, what backstories were told, the many barriers she broke though, the skills, the records, the iconic Prince video. 

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!). It includes:

• • Weekly Q&A  Behind The Scenes podcast, dedications, mini-commissions , group commissions, exclusive extended interviews, and College & Cocktails episodes. Plus discounts and first dibs on Live Show tickets and merch.
  • Exclusive VIP section on the message board Forum
• More goodies:
  • GymCastic newsletters 
  • 2024 College & Cocktails menu (including mocktails, of course)
  • GymCastic Fantasy Games
  • GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even “tapestries” (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast!
  • Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store

RELATED EPISODES

• Behind The Scenes every Friday: find them all here
• Behind The Scenes: GOAT Tour & Jordan's Swiss Appeal
• All About Aly Raisman
• Battle Amanar
• Vault Funerals, Brandy Johnson and the gymternet news

COMMISSIONED EPISODES

• • The FluffCast
  • Gymnastics Dumest Rules 
  • GymKata starring Kurt Thomas
  • A Quitters Try: The CNN Parkettes Documentary 
  • The Leotard Episode
  • Uncle Tim's Mythbusters

• The 1992 Barcelona Olympics with Wendy Bruce
• Find them all here

The latest gymternet news; retroactively applying the artistry checklist to historic routines; revisiting the 2008 Olympic Team Final; Aly Raisman the 2010-2011 era.

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!). It includes:

• • Weekly Q&A  Behind The Scenes podcast, dedications, mini-commissions , group commissions, exclusive extended interviews, and College & Cocktails episodes. Plus discounts and first dibs on Live Show tickets and merch.
  • Exclusive VIP section on the message board Forum
• More goodies:
  • GymCastic newsletters 
  • 2024 College & Cocktails menu (including mocktails, of course)
  • GymCastic Fantasy Games
  • GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even “tapestries” (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast!
  • Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store

RELATED EPISODES

• Behind The Scenes: GOAT Tour & Jordan's Swiss Appeal
• All About Aly Raisman
• Battle Amanar
• Vault Funerals, Brandy Johnson and the gymternet news

COMMISSIONED EPISODES

• The FluffCast
• Gymnastics Dumest Rules 
• GymKata starring Kurt Thomas
• A Quitters Try: The CNN Parkettes Documentary 
• The Leotard Episode
• Uncle Tim's Mythbusters
• The 1992 Barcelona Olympics with Wendy Bruce
• Find them all here

Today's exclusive episode is about Simone Biles GOAT tour rehearsals, but then Jordan Chiles' law firm made her bronze medal appeal public along with the video evidence, so we've got to talk all about it. Jessica spoke with experts, attorneys and Cecile Landi about the evidence showing that Simone Biles Olympic FX final inquiry was never processed. For everything you need to know about the medal fight listen to The Definitive Guide to the Paris Floor Bronze Debacle so far... 

Behind The Scenes is a weekly Q&A live podcast and post-meet live exclusive. It's all part of the bonus content for our Club Members who supporting our work year around. Here's how to ask questions live. Can't make it live? Add all the exclusive Club Gym Nerd bonus content to your favorite podcast player -  instructions here. Not a member? Join here. 

PARIS HEADQUARTERS: podcasts, schedules and fantasy game Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!). It includes:

• • Weekly Q&A  Behind The Scenes podcast, dedications, mini-commissions , group commissions, exclusive extended interviews, and College & Cocktails episodes. Plus discounts and first dibs on Live Show tickets and merch.
  • Exclusive VIP section on the message board Forum
• More goodies:
  • GymCastic newsletters 
  • 2024 College & Cocktails menu (including mocktails, of course)
  • GymCastic Fantasy Games
  • GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even "tapestries" (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast!
  • Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store

RELATED EPISODES

• • • • The Definitive Guide to the Paris Floor Bronze Debacle so far...
      • Behind The Scenes: Back from Paris with the Cluster Fuggle of Bronze
      • Event Finals Day Three live from Paris
      • Event Finals Day Two live from Paris
      • Event Finals Day One live from Paris
      • Women’s All Around Live from the Paris Olympic Games
      • Men's All Around Final and Simone Biles Epic Clap Back at Skinner
      • Women’s Team Final Live from the Paris Olympic Games
      • Men’s Team Final Live from the Paris Olympic Games
      • Women’s Qualifications Live from the Paris Olympic Games
      • Men’s Qualification Live From The Paris Olympic Games
      • Women’s Podium Training Live From The Paris Olympic Games
      • Paris Olympic Preview and Olympic Judging Evaluation System (part two)
      • Judging The Judges: How Judges Are Chosen For the Olympic Games
      • Biggest Olympic Judging Scandals and Paris Rules Update
      • Behind The Scenes: Back from Trials

RESOURCES 

• Spencer's Clickable Code of Points
• Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim
• The Highest scores, D scores and World Cup rankings at The Gymternet
• Men's Gymnastics coverage from Kensley Neutral Deductions

MORE WAYS TO LISTEN HERE

 

•  

 

• Breaking News: emergency episode coming tomorrow, Tuesday Sept 16th, because Jordan Chiles has filed her own appeal against the C.A.S. bronze medal decision and included the evidence.
• This week we talk about Simone Biles GOAT tour pommel horse injection now featuring Simone; the lost 1982 generation including early gymnast-for-change hero, Alexandra Marinescu (ROM); answer a question about how Marta Karolyi really acted;  rank our top three Amanars and rage-o-meter about tv camera angles.

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!). It includes:

• • Weekly Q&A  Behind The Scenes podcast, dedications, mini-commissions , group commissions, exclusive extended interviews, and College & Cocktails episodes. Plus discounts and first dibs on Live Show tickets and merch.
  • Exclusive VIP section on the message board Forum
• More goodies:
  • GymCastic newsletters 
  • 2024 College & Cocktails menu (including mocktails, of course)
  • GymCastic Fantasy Games
  • GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even “tapestries” (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast!
  • Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store

COMMISSIONED EPISODES

• The FluffCast
• Gymnastics Dumest Rules 
• GymKata starring Kurt Thomas
• A Quitters Try: The CNN Parkettes Documentary 
• The Leotard Episode
• Uncle Tim's Mythbusters
• The 1992 Barcelona Olympics with Wendy Bruce
• Find them all here