Confirming longstanding rumors, Martha Karolyi has finally announced to the world that she will be retiring following the 2016 Rio Olympics. She told WTHR, "Unfortunately, any good stuff has to come to an end” and she will step down from her role as U.S. National Team Coordinator next summer.

Martha has been in her role as National Team Coordinator since 2001 after taking over the position from husband Bela Karolyi. Together, they have created a culture of excellence in the U.S. and the team has grown and improved tremendously since their arrival. They’ve unified the system and made competing for the country the top priority. One prime example of this is the monthly national team training camps that are held at the Karolyi Ranch in Huntsville, Texas. The top gymnasts are invited to these camps where they not only train together but also bond as a team.



Martha previously planned to retire following the 2012 London Olympics, but as the 2012 season progressed, she expressed her desire to continue for at least another quad. In 2012, USAG announced they would reorganize the management of the elite program to divide up the responsibilities and allow Martha to focus solely on the National Team. Therefore, in January of 2013, Valeri Liukin officially began his role as the elite athlete development coordinator, and Steve Rybacki became the director of elite athlete programs. Since then, this trio has been the leading force behind the USA Gymnastics elite program.

With only one year left of Martha at the helm, USAG will have to find a replacement. When asked about who will take over this prestigious position, USAG spokesperson Leslie King told us "right now we are focused on getting our athletes ready for next year’s olympic games in Rio and getting them prepared so they can do their best at the Olympic Games. Once the games have concluded, we will be addressing this.”

Until then, let’s take a look at some coaches and officials who could potentially fill this role. To be clear, these are our personal thoughts and in no way has USAG listed these people as candidates.

Valeri Liukin

Liukin is one of the first people that comes to mind when looking at who could be a strong leader for USA. Liukin was rumored to be next in line to takeover when Martha was originally retiring in 2012. He not only has experience as a gymnast himself, but he has extensive coaching experience, including coaching his daughter Nastia Liukin to the Olympic all-around title in 2008. As a gymnast, Valeri was a member of the Soviet National Team from 1985-92. During his career, he won two gold and two silver medals at the 1988 Olympic Games, five gold medals at the 1990 Goodwill Games, and gold and silver medals at the 1987-91 World Championships.

Besides his gymnastics and coaching skills, he has displayed strong management and leadership skills. He was the co-founder, owner, and head women’s coach of the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA). His coaching accomplishments and accolades include: International Coach of the Year, 2002, 2004; International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, 2005; USA Gymnastics Coach of the Year, 2006; U.S. Team head coach, 2007 Pan American Games; 2008 U.S. Olympic Team coach; and 2009 International Gymnastics Coach of the Year.

He has continued to show strong leadership and decision making skills as the elite athlete development coordinator. In his current role, he directs the women's athlete developmental pipeline. He handles the curriculum and directs all developmental camps and oversees the Talent Opportunity Program (TOPs), all with a strong focus on education. However, he may be doing too good of a job, as USAG may want him to remain in his current position.

Rhonda Faehn

Faehn is another obvious pick to take over for Martha. This May, she began her role with USAG as Senior Vice President of USA Gymnastics' Women's Program. She was previously the head coach at the University of Florida where she led the Gators to the school’s first ever NCAA title in 2013, then led them to repeat in 2014 and 2015. Similar to Liukin, Faehn has experience as a gymnast, coach, and in a high ranking management and leadership position.

Faehn was a member of the USA Gymnastics national team from 1985-1988, and was the highest all-around finisher for the United States at the 1987 World Championships. She was an alternate on the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team. She went on to compete for UCLA before moving into a college coaching role. She was an assistant coach at the University of Maryland and the University of Nebraska prior to taking the head coaching job at the University of Florida.

Her time as the head coach at Florida proves she has strong leadership as well as decision making skills. Faehn had to make swift and confident decisions about her team including picking lineups for crucial competitions from a team of incredible athletes. This could directly translate to Martha’s current role of picking a few girls for a competition out of the many on the national team.

Mary Lee Tracy

Tracy is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable and successful coaches in the history of USA Gymnastics. For over 35 years, she has owned and held the head coaching position at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy. In that time Tracy has developed and coached twenty seven national team members, ten World Championship team members, and three gymnasts to the Olympics. Some of the most prominent of these being Amanda Borden, Jaycee Phelps, Morgan White, and more recently Lexie Preissman and Amelia Hundley.

In addition to coaching, Tracy currently serves as a Coaches Representative for the International Elite Committee, and works closely with the day to day decision making in the elite system. Having been in several roles within the USA Gymnastics system throughout her career, Tracy knows the ins and outs, and would have a good understanding of what it would take to be successful as National Team Coordinator.

That being said, throughout all of her success, Tracy has remained fully invested in her role as owner and head coach at CGA. While she has the experience and expertise to take over Martha’s position, it is unclear whether she has the desire to do so.

Kim Zmeskal-Burdette

Zmeskal-Burdette is a name that also deserves to be in this conversation. Few know Martha and Bela better, as she was one of their own athletes back in the days of her elite career. She has seen, experienced, and been a product of their success. In 1991, Zmeskal-Burdette became the first American, male or female, to capture the World All Around Title. She won several individual medals in the 1991 and 1992 World Championships, and was part of the 1992 Olympic team that earned a bronze medal in Barcelona.

Zmeskal-Burdette has continued her success in the sport through her coaching career. She and husband Chris Burdette opened Texas Dreams Gymnastics in 2001, and have since developed several National Team Members including Peyton Ernst, Kennedy Baker, Ragan Smith, and most notably, Bailie Key. Together, they have built Texas Dreams into one of the most prominent clubs in the nation.

However, unlike Tracy, Zmeskal-Burdette is seemingly at the beginning of her career. She has only just begun to see the successes of her labor through the program her and Chris have built. Compared to others on this list, she has limited international experience as a coach, although her time doesn't seem to be too far off. With everything in place at Texas Dreams, the duo show the promise and ability to develop successful elites for many years to come. Is she ready to make the jump to National Team Coordinator? Maybe one day, but probably not yet.

Mihai Brestyan

Mihai and his wife Silvia, like the Karolyis, were born raised, and educated in Romania. It is where they began their coaching career and learned the discipline, technique, and expert knowledge that has allowed them to be so successful in the gymnastics world. After coming to America, the couple opened Brestyan’s Gymnastics in 2000. Since that time, Mihai has been a staple in the US elite program, coaching a gymnast on the national team every year from 2002-2012 and again in 2015. Alicia Sacramone was the first, with ten World Championship medals and a team silver in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Then came Aly Raisman, who won three medals in the 2012 Olympics; a gold with the team, a gold on floor, and a bronze on beam, as well as three individual World Championship medals. Furthermore, Brestyan and Raisman hope to do it all again in Rio 2016.

In addition to developing both European and American champions, Mihai serves as the Chairman of the International Elite Committee, and oversees decisions that impact directly impact the direction and development of elite gymnastics in the U.S. He is a trusted member of the team, and his experience and knowledge of the sport undeniable. Despite all this, he is not necessarily considered a front runner for the National Team Coordinator position, as many others around him share the same expertise, but only time will tell.

Liang Chow

A final contender who deserves recognition to fill Martha's shoes is Chow. While he is thriving as the owner and head coach at Chow's Gymnastics and Dance, a gym he opened back in 1998, he definitely has the leadership and insight to continue USA's dominance. He has the same solid three components that the other candidates have including being a gymnast himself, coaching top elites including Olympic gold medalists, as well as a high level of respect in the gymnastics community.

However, Chow has continued to produce elite stars and shows no signs of slowing down. It is likely he would want to remain in his current position while continuing to prove as a solid asset to USA Gymnastics.

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Martha Karolyi to Retire following the 2016 Rio Olympics