Most Successful Coach-world record set by Octavian
Bellu
[Dec 1] BUCHAREST, Romania--Octavian Bellu, 56, Romanian
gymnastics coach, has set the world record as the Most Successful
Coach: 16 Olympics Gold Medals and a total of 279* (*updated
to 305) medals at World and European Championships and Olympic Games.
Highly successful, Octavian Bellu
led the Romanian gynastics team to five world and two Olympic titles,
as well as coaching numerous individual gold medalists - since the
1991 break-up of the Soviet Union, Romania has been the most successful
women's gymnastics power. (enlarge
photo)
Octavian Bellu coached such accomplished
gymnasts as Lavinia Milosovici, Andreea Raducan, Simona Amanar and
Catalina Ponor.
Although a moderately successful gymnast in his
early years, Belu's success has been in the field of coaching rather
than performing, and he has spent his adult life in this profession.
Octavian Bellu was head of the national team, with interruptions,
between 1988 and 2005. He has been the coach of the Romanian Women's
Team since the defection of Bela Karolyi for political reason in
1981.
His dedication and commitment
to excellence have ment the key to success for Romanian gymnastics.
Octavian
Bellu received many awards, was decorated few times by Romanian
Presidents and received the highest honors from the Romanian Olympic
Comitee.
(enlarge
photo: Jurnalul National: Omul
Anului / "Man of the Year")
Octavian Bellu also served as an adviser on the
staff of President Traian Basescu. Octavian Bellu was appointed
as the new president of Romania's sports governing body (ANS).