By JOHN A. FERGUSON World Sports Writer 
12/10/99

Kathy Kelly, senior director of Women's USA Gymnastics, welcomed back Bela Karolyi on Thursday as consultant to the U.S. national team.

 Kelly is in Tulsa for the opening of the three-day Talent Opportunities Program in which 86 national gymnasts from ages 9 to 12 are participating.

 Karolyi coached Nadia Comaneci of Romania to gold medals in the all-around, balance beam and uneven bars at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and Mary Lou Retton (all-around) and Julie McNamara (uneven bars) to gold medals in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

 Karolyi, whose consulting roll officially begins on Jan. 1, will spend Sunday evaluating the national team athletes at Tulsa World of Gymnastics.

 ``Bela is the best motivator I've ever seen,'' said Kelly.

 Karolyi also was a factor in the Bradshaw partners, Linda and Wayne, closing the 1993 deal on their current Tulsa World of Gymnastics establishment at 7020 E. 38th St.

 ``We took a busload of kids to his camp in Texas and Bela motivated us that time (in 1991) to stay with gymnastics and help the children,'' Linda said.

 Until the 2000 Olympics at Sydney, Australia, Kelly said the plan is for a monthly meeting of the athletes and their personal coaches at sites to be determined in the U.S.

 Tulsa is a likely host for the July session because the U.S. Classic National Gymfest will be held at ORU's Mabee Center on July 7-8.

 THE NATIONAL GYMNASTICS TEAM

Kristen Maloney, Pen Argyl, Pa.; Elise Ray, Columbia, Md.; Vanessa Atler, Canyon Country, Calif.; Jennie Thompson, Cincinnati, Ohio; Alyssa Beckerman, Middletown, N.J.; Marie Fjordholm, Miami, Fla.; Dana Pierce, Advanced, Ind.; Angela Beam, Norman; Kendall Beck, San Antonio, Texas; Michelle Emmons, Houston, Texas; Sierra Sapunar, Wyoming, Ohio; Brittany Smith, Houston, Texas; Kristen Stucky, Milwaukee, Wis.; Kim Zmeskal, Houston, Texas; Marline Stephens, Houston, Texas; My-Lan Dodd, Seattle, Wash.; Annabeth Eberle, Reno, Nev.; Erinn Dooley, Gaithersburg, Md.; Lindsay Wing, Huntsville, Ala.; Monique Chang, Fairfax Station, Va.; Carri Nagle, Whitehall, Pa.; Katie Hardman, Houston, Texas; Jamie Dantzscher, Palmdale, Calif.; Jeanette Antolin, Paradise, Calif.; Morgan White, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Robin Phelps, Rockville, Md.; Tasha Schwikert, Las Vegas, Nev.; Stephanie Carter, Bryn Athyn, Pa.; Amy Chow, San Jose, Calif.