Bela Karolyi, the influential gymnastics coach who trained stars like Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton, has died at 82. His legacy, however, is marred by allegations of abusive practices and his involvement in the scandal surrounding disgraced doctor Larry Nassar. Karolyi and his wife, Martha, defected to the U.S. in 1981, where their coaching methods propelled American gymnastics to new heights yet faced criticism for their harshness. Athletes both revered and condemned his coaching, highlighting a complex legacy in a sport now grappling with its past.