Carol Bedö

Carol Bedö was born in Aiud, and was educated at the Unitarian College in Cluj-Napoca and the College of Physical Education in București where he earned certification as a teacher. Taking up gymnastics at a young age, he started with the Dermata club in Cluj-Napoca and was a member of the Romanian national gymnastics team by the age of 15. He won a silver medal at the National Championships in 1950 where he also earned a top-five finish in the individual standings. In 1952, he won three titles at the Romanian National Championships, and was thus selected for the delegation for the Helsinki Olympics where the Romanian team finished in 20th place.

An educator by profession, he began teaching at the College of Physical Education in București in 1954 where he also served as head coach of the gymnastics team from 1954 to 1965. He was also involved in the administration of the Romanian Gymnastics Association as a member of the technical and competition organizing committee from 1960 to 1975, as a coach of the men’s national team from 1960 to 1985, and as an international judge. Bedö was also an editor of gymnastics textbooks in the 1980s, and held a patent for a specialized mesh netting used in gymnastics for “jumps and exercises”. He was awarded a Medal of Sports Merit (class II) in 1972.