Episode 30: Teaching Capitalism to Americans: The Karolyis Come Stateside with Geza Pozsar

 

***Content warning: In this episode, we discuss the ways that individuals used harmful and abusive methods in their coaching tactics and their impact on athletes.***

 

In the explosive second part of this interview with former US national gymnastics team choreographer and long-time Karolyi collaborator Geza Pozsar, all three hosts and guest delve into what the Karolyis reveal about gymnastics culture in communist Europe and the capitalist US. Geza powerfully makes the case that Bela Karolyi's abusive methods were a function of his deficiencies in technical knowledge, for which he overcompensated through overtraining and harsh discipline. Indeed, rather than viewing Bela as representative of Eastern methods, we should understand that he failed to thrive in the communist system. It was only in the US that he was fully embraced thanks to a capitalist preoccupation with winning at all costs. Geza also makes the case that although there has been the scapegoating of particular figures in the horrific scandals of violence and abuse that have rightly haunted US gymnastics in recent years, many other complicit figures have not been held accountable, including the mainstream media itself.

 

For more on Geza Pozsar, check out Dvora Meyers' terrific piece here. You can find Geza on Twitter @GezaPozsar.

 

After listening to the episode, check out our recent piece "Canceling the College-Football Season Isn't Enough" published in The Chronicle of Higher Education 

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www.TheEndofSport.com

 

**For a transcription of this episode please click here. Huge thanks to @Punkadmic for making this happen!**