Bela Karolyi: Never a gymnast better than Biles

RIO DE JANEIRO – Legendary gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi bestowed the “ultimate honor” on women’s all-around gold medalist Simone Biles by insisting there has never been a better gymnast than the new American superstar.

Karolyi, whose wife Martha is the current head coach of the United States women’s team, told USA TODAY Sports that he had learned from experience to hedge his bets whenever he is tempted to proclaim the gymnastics world’s latest star as the best ever.

But the level of dominance shown by Biles as she surged to gold, finishing a decisive 2.1 points clear of teammate Aly Raisman, with Russia’s Aliya Mustafina in third, caused him to rethink.

“Gymnastic continues to be changing and more and more complex and a more and more difficult sport,” he said, adding that the kind of moves performed by Biles and her rivals would have been unthinkable to previous generations. “You can’t compare a performance of Simone Biles vs. 1996 or Montreal.”

Karolyi’s protégé Nadia Comaneci dominated in Montreal in 1976, while two of his gymnasts were part of the Magnificent Seven that triumphed in Atlanta 20 years later.

Karolyi shook his head when asked if any gymnast in history had performed better than Biles.

“Many times I was wondering how far we go,” he said. “There were times to be honest, people around us said after Nadia (Comaneci’s) performance in Montreal ,maybe, maybe this is it. But you know what, bull----.  Exactly five years later little kids are playing at the same skills.”

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The 73-year-old had the same feeling when Mary-Lou Retton was victorious at Los Angeles in 1984. “Five years later, everybody (was doing the same). But now look at Simone…the ultimate honor.”

Karolyi insisted his praise of Biles was no disrespect to gymnasts of yesteryear.

“It is very hard,” he added. “Many people are asking, how is she relating to that one? These athletes are the greatest of their time.”

After two rotations, Biles trailed Mustafina, though those scores were skewed somewhat as the Russian’s clear best event, the uneven bars, had already passed and Biles’ brilliance on the floor was still to come.

Even so, Karolyi said the temporary closeness of the scores made the event special.

“That made this competition so spicy, so beautiful, and I enjoyed that so much in the moment,” Karolyi. “But those who are best trained will (prevail). Those who are shaky, they will fall.”