Dear Betty: Please name your favorite actresses.
C. Salter

BETTY: Audrey Hepburn. She flowed on the screen. Does that make sense? It was effortless.

SportsHollywood: What about someone contemporary?

BETTY: Maggie Simpson.

Dear Betty: Since Bela Karoyli stopped coaching there doesn't seem to be any dominate gyms around that other gyms fear in competition. I remember watching as you and your teammates would walk into competitions with Bela and your team would practically walk away with all the medals. Basically, Bela girls would place 1,2,3. Now it seems as if there is no real threat so clubs can let up and hope their gymnast wins. Do you see a lack of a dominate club in the U.S. as something that hurts our U.S. team in international competition? I have tons of tapes of you and Bela's other girls. I wish I could have trained as a gymnast with Bela. Thanks for your time and response.--Maggie

BETTY: Absolutely. There's no competition within our country so there's nothing pushing the athletes to get better--to push them to a higher level. Where as when Bela was around, all of his kids were pretty much the tops in the world. So everybody else in this country had to look no further than Bela's athletes to see where they needed to be and what level they needed to reach to be the best.

Would you say that I could be a gymnastics coach? I am eighteen years old. I have never been in gymnastics but I like working with children. Should start gymnastics now? What should I major in college? Should it Physical Education or Athletic Coaching? Thank You--Stephen

BETTY: First of all, you don't need to take gymnastics or have ever done gymnastics to be a great coach. Bela Karoyli never did gymnastics. He was a handball player. His wife Marta was a gymnast. Get a degree in Phys.Ed. you need to know how to work with kids, watch the sport of gymnastics and learn.

Betty: Is Norm MacDonald a jerk in real life and did he hit on you?
Marleen

BETTY: (Laughing) I can't answer that. I plead the fifth on that question. No he's not a jerk and I omit the last part. He's a very cool guy!

The Olympic team stank this year. Were they really that bad, or was it just because of the lowered balance beams, etc?
Mary

BETTY: They made it to the Olympics so they weren't that bad. You have to place in the top six at the World Championships to go to the Olympics and they literally got the last spot. Were they that bad? They were below par, they were not good. But the conditions in Australia were terrible. The equipment was terrible. I think a lot of the gymnasts, as a whole, weren't up to par.

Would you ever act or pose nude?
Travis0832

BETTY: Would I pose nude? No. Would I act nude? Yes, if it was in good taste and the script called for it. I already got "Undressed." That question is from a guy isn't it?

Hi Betty! This site is cool. I was wondering if there was a way to get an autographed picture. If you could post it or let me know if you have a fan address that would be awesome! Thanks!--Melissa Brown

BETTY: Yes, just e-mail me your address and I'll send one out to you. (The same for anybody else who wants an autographed photo -- just click on the e-mail button, above.)

You are a great looking woman. What shows will you be on in the upcoming months? -- Las8904

BETTY: Gee thanks! I'll be on "Moesha" but I don't know the airdate. I don't know of other things just yet but I could use some help moving. You got a strong set of arms?

Is there anybody who performs your "Okino" move as well as you can?
Veronica57

BETTY: No.

SportsHollywood: Does anyone come close?

BETTY: No... and will they ever? NO!

SportsHollywood: Spoken like a true competitor.

BETTY: (Lots of giggles) I've never seen anyone attempt it in competition because it's a difficult move and it's a risky move. You can get your difficulty in other moves.

Hey Betty- how about our SOONERS?? -- Jerri

BETTY: (Trying desperately to sing the fight song) "Boomer Sooners, Boomer Sooners." Oklahoma will win the National Championship; it's meant to happen, it's been 13 years. No predictions other than……THEY'LL WIN!!!

What did you think of the leotards you guys had to wear at the '92 Olympics? What would you have chosen instead?--Hattie Morgan, NYC

BETTY: Something that didn't ride up my ass. That thing sucked, it wouldn't stay down.

Okino Archive

Betty Okino 1990 U.S. National Championships: Silver Medalist (AA), Gold Medalist (Beam) and Event Finalist (5th Bars, 4th Floor) 1991 World Championships: Silver Medalist (Team), Bronze Medalist (Beam) and 4th AA 1991 American Cup: Champion and Gold Medalist (AA, Vault, Bars) 1992 World Championships: Silver Medalist (Bars) and Event Finalist (8th Beam) 1992 Olympics: Bronze Medalist (Team) and Event Finalist (6th Beam)