Octavian Bellu

Octavian Bellu
Octavian Bellu in 2011
Born17 February 1951 (1951-02-17) (age 73)
Ploiești, Romania
NationalityRomanian
Octavian Bellu on a 2014 Romanian stamp

Octavian Ioan Atanase Bellu (Romanian pronunciation: [oktaviˈan ˈbelu]; born 17 February 1951) is the current head of the Romanian national women's artistic gymnastics team.

He was the main coach, with interruptions, from 1990 to 2005[1] and returned as head of the national team in 2010.[2]

Highly successful, Bellu led the team to five world and two Olympic titles, as well as coaching numerous individual gold medalists – since 1990, Romania has been the most successful women's gymnastics power. He also coached such accomplished gymnasts as Lavinia Miloșovici, Andreea Răducan, Monica Roșu, Simona Amânar, Gina Gogean, Cătălina Ponor, Sandra Izbașa and Larisa Iordache. During his time as head coach, his teams have combined to win 82 world (59) and Olympic (23) medals.[1]

In 2007, the World Record Academy recognized Bellu as the world's most successful coach, with 16 Olympic gold medals and a total of 279 medals at the European and World Championships and Olympic Games.[3][4] He was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in May 2009.[1]

  1. ^ a b c International Gymnastics Hall of Fame Inductees Octavian Bellu
  2. ^ International Gymnast Magazine Gent victory marks new beginning for Izbasa, Amanda Turner, 14 September 2010
  3. ^ Note: Since 2007, the number of medals has increased.
  4. ^ Most Successful Coach-world record set by Octavian Bellu. worldrecordacademy.com