Photo of the Week - Geza Pozsar
I found this photo on Geza Pozsar’s official website. For those of you who don’t know, Geza Pozsar was the choreographer for Nadia, Mary Lou Retton, Kim Zmeskal and dozens of other American gymnasts (including the entire 1996 Olympic Team) throughout the past 3 decades. He defected from Romania with Bela & Martha Karolyi in 1981 and owns Pozsar’s Gymnastics in Sacramento, CA.
One of the reasons I like this photo so much is that it reminds me of a very special day in my life when I was a 13-year-old Level 8 gymnast…
I lived in a small town south of Sacramento. It was the Summer of 1992 and I was enrolled in Pozsar’s week-long Gymnastics camp. My parents had agreed to let me sign up for a Floor routine choreographed by Geza himself. It was an additional cost but I had convinced my mom and dad that it would be worth it. But on the second day of camp Geza was called away (Michelle Campi, who was vying for a spot on the 1992 Olympic Team was from Pozsar’s gym). I was so disappointed but we were assured that Geza would still choreograph routines for those of us who had signed up.
About 2 weeks after the Olympics (probably about 5 weeks or so since the end of camp) I got a phone call. It was Geza himself! He asked if he could come to my home gym and choreograph my Floor routine. I hung up the phone in a state of awe. Geza Pozsar had just called me himself. I could not believe it. I had the movie Nadia on repeat for basically my entire childhood so I had watched him in the movie countless times. Everyone in my family (whether they wanted to or not) knew who he was because of the movie. Perhaps other kids wanted to meet Tom Cruise or Madonna but this was about as good as it could get for me.
To make a long story short, Geza did come to my home gym and as luck would have it, he came in the morning so there were no classes going on and we had the gym to ourselves. My mom came and shot pictures throughout the morning and it was such a thrill for me. He even told us all about his experiences at the recent Olympics and which routines were his favorites. I’ll never forget that day. Maybe I’ll dig up one of those pictures and post it here sometime.
October 31st, 2007 at 7:52 pm
that sounds amazing! his routines are so great, he is by far one of my choreographers ever!
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:30 am
This is my daughter, Jordan Melton (11yr.old Level 10-2004 & her last choreographed session with Geza). I couldn’t believe it when I stumbled on to this site after looking at various gym websites for ideas to update our gym’s site. Geza was always my daughters choreographer & she loved & respected him completely! She was in awe of him & the fact that he always got the ‘Best’ out of her with quiet resolve, yet always maintained his gently disposition. This photo was taken in Sept ‘04, 4 months before she left the sport when one of her local coaches split the gym, destroying the business & all hopes for her continuance to work toward the 2008 Trials. Regardless, our family continues to remember Geza with such fondness & appreciation & considers him family. He represents the sport of gymnastics with honor & dignity and any gymnast that is blessed enough to have the opportunity to work with him should realize the legacy they are being made a part of! To this day, I can call Geza & he’d say, “Deeeee!” in that wonderful Romanian accent & we’d start conversation right where we left off from before. We love you Geza & are most thankful for YOU & the good you have caused us to remember about Jordan’s gymnastics career!
August 18th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
his wife is my french teacher
craaaazy
October 31st, 2009 at 3:04 pm
i go to pozsars gymnastics and Geza is soooooo nice and awsome
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:10 am
This brought tears to my eyes, you have no idea how proud I am of my father.
Best,
Karina Pozsar
August 21st, 2011 at 6:16 pm
My daughter Gabriella is 9 years old and a level 7 gymnast! She just had the amazing opportunity to work with Geza on her floor and beam routine. He spent hours and hours making sure she knew every step and leap perfectly before he moved on with the routine. I took many photos and was able to video tape everything. In years to come she will be very happy to know that she was trained by a famous choeographer.
Thank you Geza!
April 10th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
You are an amazing person I knew that when u walked through the door.
Dr. Lau and Umeda