JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Gymnastics legend Bela Karolyi was recently in Jacksonville to talk about the sport he helped shape and also to visit a special young gymnast.

Karolyi stopped by Wolfson Children's Hospital, where he talked about the importance of physical fitness and spent some time with Whitney Pinson, who is using her love of gymnastics as inspiration in her battle with cancer.

Karolyi has trained some the greatest gymnasts in the world, inspiring the likes of Mary Lou Retton and Nadia Comaneche to challenge themselves to come out on top.

The gymnasts he trained are some of those who inspired 13-year-old Pinson to become a gymnast.

"Her whole body was in very good condition when she started her first battle," said Whitney Pinson's mother, Michelle Pinson.

"The first thing I thought of was wanting to get done so I could get back to the gym," Whitney Pinson said.

Karolyi had not met Pinson until Tuesday's visit to Wolfson. He said he was impressed with the teen's spirit.

"The first thing I said, 'You girl are looking good and you're going to be even better, but remember you're a gymnast and you've got to work for it.' Bless her heart," Bella said.

Pinson has one more round of chemotherapy before undergoing a bone marrow transplant in April.

Although the cancer has taken a toll on her body, like Karolyi's numerous champions, she said she is determined to come out victorious and find her way back to the gym.

"She definitely fought it. She's fighting it just as hard as she did the first time. So, she definitely will make it through again," Michelle Pinson said.

"It's going to be tough, but I think I might go back into tumbling and go to the gym and visit at least," said Whitney Pinson.