1. Octavian Bellu was the main coach, with interruptions, from 1990 to 2005 and returned as head of the national team in 2010.
12 Facts About Octavian Bellu
1. 2.
Octavian Bellu coached such accomplished gymnasts as Lavinia Milosovici, Andreea Raducan, Monica Rosu, Simona Amanar, Gina Gogean, Catalina Ponor, Sandra Izbasa and Larisa Iordache.
3.
Octavian Bellu was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in May 2009.
4.
Octavian Bellu started out in gymnastics as a gymnast at Petrolul Ploiesti Sport Club and dedicated 13 years to the sport.
5.
Octavian Bellu played volleyball and basketball and took up diving.
6.
Octavian Bellu became a coach of the national team in 1981 after the defection of Marta and Bela Karolyi to the United States.
7.
In 1990, Octavian Bellu took over as women's head coach, succeeding Adrian Goreac.
8.
Octavian Bellu's gymnasts were dominant in the 2004 Olympic Games, winning four of the six available gold medals.
9.
Octavian Bellu was the president of the National Sports Committee and a state secretary in the Ministry of Sports.
10.
Octavian Bellu was reinstated as head of the national team, replacing Nicolae Forminte.
11.
Octavian Bellu reached the 300-medal mark in European, World and Olympic Games after the 2013 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Moscow.
12.
Octavian Bellu has one daughter, Iolanda, born in 1978, with his first wife, Camelia, a nurse.