By JOHN A. FERGUSON World Sports Writer 12/13/99

 Houston's Bela Karolyi has been involved with gymnastics ever since his early days in the sport in Transylvania more than four decades ago.

 It was in the 1976 Olympics at Montreal that he coached Romania's Nadia Comaneci to gold medals in the individual all-around, balance beam and uneven bars.

 Karolyi has not forgotten the sunshine of his coaching career, when Mary Lou Retton became the first American all- around champion at the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angles.

 ``The United States showed they were as great as any other country in gymnastics," said Karolyi.

 Karolyi is in Tulsa to start his appraisal of the national women's team, the defending Olympic champions. He was called upon by USA gymnastics to evaluate and oversee the development of the team for the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia. At a press conference, Karolyi explained his role would be that of a coordinator and evaluator, ``not as a coach on the floor."

 As for the makeup of the U.S. Women's Olympic Gymnastics Team, Karolyi would know more about that on his next trip to Tulsa on July 7-8 for the U.S. Classic Gymfest. The Olympic trials are scheduled for Boston on Aug. 15-16.

 Karolyi said his keys for gymnastics success are ability, hard work, love of the sport, determination and dedication.

 ``Everybody will be taking aim at the U.S. after the victory at Atlanta,'' said Karolyi. ``That's what I like, plenty of competitiveness."

 Before going to work on the national team, Karolyi met with the 86 students of the Talent Opportunities Programs (TOPS) at their banquet at the Embassy Suites on Saturday.

 Tulsa will be 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.