BETTY: I'm at a loss for words, that's so cool. Wow! Wow! That's all I can say. The fact that I've impacted someone's life... Wow! I'm touched! Thank you!!!
"Hi Betty! What gymnast inspired you the most when you started out?" - Salrow
BETTY: I would say it was two gymnasts, not one: Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton. I started gymnastics after watching Mary Lou in the '84 Olympics. Actually, the next day I told my parents I wanted to do gymnastics. Literally the next day I went to the gym for the first time.
"How would your Olympic team do against the current one?" - gymfan
BETTY: The Sydney team? The Sydney U.S. team? (Laughing) We would kick their ass! Not to be arrogant in any way but, without a doubt!
"What was your most memorable performance in gymnastics and in acting?" - Larry
BETTY: Oh God, there are so many. My first one would be the America Cup in 1990 because that's where I got my first perfect 10. It was on the vault. That was the best feeling in the world. Then the second one would be the 1991 World Championships in Indianapolis and the vault was our last event and it was a team competition and there was 70,000 thousand people just going crazy in the stands. It was kind of cool because we won a silver medal. We were up for gold medal contention and everybody went one vault after another and we all nailed it and nailed it and nailed it. We ended on Kim Zmeskal's vault and she ended with a 10 and it was huge. It was so cool.
"How about in acting?" - (More of Larry)
BETTY: (Big Laugh) I haven't had that yet. I've had performances but none of them were memorable!
"It's interesting to hear the athlete's perspective. Are you singled/involved/married/divorced?" - max8037
BETTY: Single? Yes, I'm single. Involved? Uh, no. Married? No. Divorced? Never.
"What do you think the U.S. can do to better prepare our Olympic Team for the next Olympics?" - Monica
BETTY: The U.S. needs a leader! Someone like Bela, who I doubt will be around the team for the next Olympics. But just his being involved in the sport, he has always set the precedent. Even though didn't train all six girls on the teams in the past, he did coach 3 or 4 of them. Some girls were coached by other coaches. He set the standard; he set the tone that all the other coaches followed. As much as people and other coaches liked to bag on him they watched him. They watched him in training, they watched him in competition and they took some of his methods, techniques and work ethic and they applied that to their own athletes, which made an all-around great team. Without a coach like Bela at the head leading the U.S., I don't know. They need another great coach is what they need. Funding is fine, especially after the '96 gold medal. The talent is not a problem either; we have tons of talent in this country. We need great coaches. Not to say that the coaches we have now are not good, but they don't have that thing that Bela had. He was the driving force in the sport and it makes such a huge difference him not being involved.
"Do you think Bela will coach again?" - Kath14
BETTY: I don't think so... I could be wrong though. His whole life's been gymnastics; I think he's ready to retire. He wants to relax, hang out at his ranch, play with his animals, and be with his wife and travel.
"What are your measurments (sic)?" - Bettyfan
BETTY: 38-22-38 baby!
"Hi I have always been a great fan and I have been wondering for the longest while whatever happened to you. Great to know that things turned out so well for you. :) --Texian2112
BETTY: Thank you very, very much, that's greatly appreciated!
"I'm curious; many people in acting have difficulty getting their audience to accept them as multifaceted beings. Have you had any trouble hosting a Disney show while simultaneously appearing in MTV's "Undressed?" They really seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum." -- datchristlikekid
BETTY: Yes, they are. But the beauty of it is that I haven't had any problems. It's the Gemini in me, the twins. Good Betty and Evil Betty.
(Cont.) "As they passed each other in the heat of battle, he looked into the piercing eyes of The Fisherman, and thought fearfully to himself, "The Force is strong in this one. (Matt.4:18-19)" -- datchristlikekid
BETTY: Oh wow, I like that. That sounds like something Bela would say. He always looks into the eyes of his athletes during training or when he's yelling at them and if he sees a fire in there and if he sees that they don't back down from his eye contact then that's a strong athlete. That will make a champion!