You’ve probably heard about the Romanian Olympian Nadia Comăneci. Back in 1976, she took part in the Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and her record-breaking performance turned her into a household name. However, many people do not really know her story – how she made it to the Olympic Games and escaped from Romania several years after. Keep reading to find out what happened.
The Early Days
Nadia Elena Comăneci was born on November 12th, 1961 in Onesti, Romania to Gheorghe and Ștefania Comăneci. Both Romanian Orthodox, the couple were absolutely thrilled to welcome their first child into the world. Soon after, they welcomed their second child, a son.
The Early Days
Hope For Nadia
Nadia is not an uncommon name in her country, but her parents’ reason for giving her that name was actually more specific. When Nadia’s mom was still pregnant, she and Nadia’s dad were watching a film which truly inspired the couple. The main character’s name was “Nadya”, meaning “hope”. They had no clue just how relevant the name would be.
Hope For Nadia
Full Of Life
As a young girl, Nadia was teeming with boundless energy. Little Nadia would jump on the furniture and bounce about the house practically all day. Her parents, running out of patience and strength, decided their daughter had to have an outlet for all that energy and they thought gymnastics would fit her nicely. They had no idea that their lives would be changed forever by this particular decision.
Full Of Life
Going Forward
Even when Nadia was still a child, she was already driven. She dreamed of becoming well-known and achieving greatness. She once commented about herself that, “I was driven towards something I wanted to be the best at, and I didn’t know exactly what it was, it happened to be gymnastics.”
Going Forward
Young Talent
One day in kindergarten, the six-year-old Nadia Comăneci did some cartwheels on the school’s playground along with a friend. As the two children were absorbed in playing, they did not notice a few people watching them. They were Béla and Márta Károlyi, a married couple that were gymnastic coaches and the two went to the playground in order to scout for some young talent. As a matter of fact, the Károlyis went from classroom to classroom trying to get Nadia and her buddy to join the couple’s gym.
Young Talent
Béla Károlyi
Béla Károlyi is a lifelong fan of sports and got his start in hammer throw, eventually becoming a champion hammer-thrower. Then, he decided to go into coaching and started with junior boxing. He only became involved in gymnastics when he met Márta Károlyi, his wife. They routinely scouted for new and young talent similar to Nadia.
Béla Károlyi
Hard Work
Béla managed to recruit Nadia, and the duo started working together. Each day, Nadia trained for a total of three hours as she was driven by her insatiable desire to win. Béla and Márta was absolutely impressed by Nadia’s burgeoning talent as well as exceptional form. Nadia was unstoppable — it didn’t matter that she fell down numerous times as she got up every single time, ready to give it a go once more.
Hard Work
Ups And Downs
Thanks to the rigorous training regime that her coaches had her go through, Nadia Comăneci got to compete in the Romanian National Junior Championship at the tender age of eight years old. Even though she was ranked 13th, no easy feat for someone very young, she was disappointed that she lost. However, she didn’t lose hope and even got more motivated to achieve success. This drive was what brought Nadia back to the Championships the next year, and this time, she placed first.
Ups And Downs
Practice Makes Perfect
Béla Károlyi believed in dedication and hard work, and it lifted his spirits to know that his protégé thought the same. By the time Nadia was 13 years old, she and Béla were already training 8 hours per day and 6 days in a week. Now that’s what you call dedication! The two dreamed of greatness, and they wouldn’t allow anything to get in their way.
Practice Makes Perfect
Never Too Much
Years after Nadia had become a champion, she was asked if she felt she was over-trained or pushed too hard by the Károlyis. She said that she felt the opposite was true. Nadia insisted that whenever she got an exercise from Béla, she always went the extra mile and insisted on doing more. She had wanted, on top of everything else, to become the very best.
Never Too Much
Gold and Silver
In 1975, Europe was introduced to the up-and-coming gymnastic star at the European Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships held in Skien in Norway. Nadia took home the gold in all competitions except one, but she still managed silver in that one. At just 13 years old, Nadia was catching attention worldwide and spectators defnitely took notice.
Gold And Silver
The American Cup
For the first time, Nadia Comăneci left Europe in 1976 and flew across the world to the US for the American Cup, where she competed and got her warm-up for the 1976 Summer Olympics held in Montreal. The Nadia Comăneci fever swept the globe when this talented child earned herself perfect scores.
The American Cup
Two Winners
After her sublime performance, it was time to attend the awards ceremony. A pair of silver cups were presented to a pair of male and female talented gymnasts. Nadia Comăneci earned one with gracious humility, while the other cup went to the American gymnast Bart Conner. This was their first time meeting each other, and it would turn out to be a life-changing event for them both.
Two Winners
Young Love
As the two stellar athletes modeled with medals, photographers gathered around the pair to take photos. One of the photographers shouted out, “Kiss for the cameras, please!” Then barely 18-year-old Bart Conner leaned over and chastely kissed Nadia, who was 14 years old at the time, on the cheek. The pair made quite a cute picture, and this shot firmly planted Nadia in America’s heart.
Young Love
Summer Olympics
After the American Cup, it took only four months for Nadia to make history at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. Nadia dominated the sport, leaving the spectators and judges stunned with amazement. She earned perfect scores for her stunning performances and she didn’t just get one, but six! Nadia shattered world records and became the first ever gymnast to earn that many perfect scores in the history of the Olympics. Nadia Comăneci had arrived.
Summer Olympics
Confusion In The Crowd
Because the feat Nadia accomplished was unprecedented in the history of the Olympic Games, there were a few little hiccups. Omega SA, the makers of the digital scoreboards that are used by the Olympics, did not program the boards to have the ability to display “10,” believing such an accomplishment was impossible. Rather than “10”, “1.00”was displayed. Nadia and her coach, along with the crowed, stared at the boards, puzzled, before it dawned on them what the display actually meant.
Confusion In The Crowd
Writing History
Fans really wanted to know what Nadia felt about the history-making score she got and the moment that grabbed attention. Nadia said that whenever she competes, she does not like checking the scoreboards. “I didn’t know I was making history when I got the 10.”
Writing History
The Perfect “10”
At first, Béla Károlyi, Nadia’s coach, was furious. He immediately thought there had been some mistake, some penalty which he had not noticed. He explained, “I said ‘holy cow, they deducted something over here, there is a deduction, there is a penalty,’ I was on my way to the jury, then I heard, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, first time in the history of the sport, a perfect 10 in the Olympic Games.’”
The Perfect “10”
For Now And Always
In addition to making a world record that hasn’t existed before, Nadia did so when she was just 14 years old! This record is even more incredible because she will forever remain the youngest athlete to have achieved this amazing feat seeing as the Olympic committee has set 16 years old as the youngest age to be eligible for the competition.
For Now And Always
Humble Nadia
After successfully getting multiple perfect scores, it was time for another award ceremony. One of the officials asked 14 year old Nadia how she was feeling about making history. As the world waited with bated breath for her reply, the young athlete then said, “It’s okay. I’ve gotten 19 golds in other competitions.” Now that’s confidence!
Humble Nadia
In With The New
At the Olympics in Munich, Germany in 1972, athlete Olga Korbut representing the former Soviet Union actually became the world’s darling because of her nearly flawless performance. However, there was now a new girl to watch out for. As the upcoming competition loomed, the time had come for Korbut to set her pride aside.
In With The New
A New Hero
When Nadia and the team left Montreal and went back to Bucharest, she had no clue about the reception she was about to receive upon her return. Over 10,000 people gathered in order to get a glimpse of their brand new national hero. However, Nadia was absolutely surprised by the really large cheering crowd, and she actually stepped back into the airplane for a moment.
A New Hero
National Pride
When Nadia Comăneci went back to her home country Romania, she was treated like a national hero. In the history of the country, no other athlete had ever achieved what she had. Nicolae Ceaușescu, the president during that time, awarded her the “Sickle and Hammer Gold Medal”, honoring her with the title “Hero of Socialist Labor.” Rumors even spread that her family had been given a car and one full month off from work by the government.
National Pride
Dedications To Nadia Comăneci
On her success’s tailwind, Cinematographer Robert Riger made a video montage of the performances Nadia gave at the 1976 Olympic Games. Then, he added the 1971 hit song “Cotton’s Dream” to the footage. Barry De Vorzon and Perry Botkin, Jr composed the song, which quickly became synonymous with Nadia along with her success. The track topped the top ten charts. The song was also eventually renamed “Nadia’s Theme.”
Dedications To Nadia Comăneci
Athlete Of The Year
Songs being dedicated to her was only the beginning. Newsweek Magazine featured Nadia on its cover, with color and everything, and added the caption “A Star Is Born.” In addition, BBC honoured her with the title “Overseas Sports Personality of the Year.” The Associated Press named her, “Female Athlete of the Year”. It seemed that the world went into a frenzy over Nadia Comăneci.
Athlete Of The Year
No Space
Nadia quickly became the top news story. Despite the fact that the world was also abuzz with the recent Mars mission, Time Magazine dedicated the cover to Nadia Comăneci, and only a tiny corner was left for the space mission to Mars.
No Space
New Moves
Not only did Nadia master gymnastic moves but she also invented them! The “Comăneci dismount” and the “Comăneci salto” are just some of the perfect moves she invented. We are sure the sport of gymnastics will never be the same because of the mark Nadia had left.
New Moves
Turbulent Times
Everything seemed pretty smooth sailing for Nadia Comăneci. She was at the top of her career and she enjoyed global popularity. Then, she was blindsided very unexpectedly. Her parents made a decision to get divorced. All of a sudden, Nadia along with her brother found themselves in an impossible situation.
Turbulent Times
Losing Béla
Unfortunately, this was just the beginning of Nadia’s bad luck. Suddenly, Romanian sporting officials made a decision that the country would benefit more if her coach, Béla Károlyi, coached someone else. Understandably, Nadia was heartbroken. This man had trained her ever since she was just six years old. However, this was only the first step on a dark and rather dangerous path for Nadia Comăneci.
Losing Béla
Stress Overload
Nadia was way too young for the sudden stress that she was experiencing in her life. She was just 15 years old and was ill-equipped to handle it all. All of this led to her will to train being sapped—she actually stopped going to training. She even got admitted to the hospital due to symptoms of very high stress levels.
Stress Overload
Keeping To Herself
With her passion for success and focused determination, Nadia gained a reputation and was dubbed “an emotionless gymnast”. That, however, is far from being true. At the time, she was very emotional, and rightly so! However, she did not usually show her feelings and preferred to keep them to herself. Nadia’s coach, Béla Károlyi, commented that “she kept everything inside.” Nadia was actually pitiful seeing as she was just too young to cope with everything.
Keeping To Herself
Time To Restart
Soon, Romanian Sporting Authority officials started to realize how their decision to reassign Béla to train another athlete as affected the young Nadia. Thus, he was reinstated as her coach at once. The reunion was pretty tearful, but a happy one overall. However, the two did not sit around to catch up, seeing as the Olympic Games, that were going to be in Moscow, were very near.
Time To Restart
Hands On
Injuries can happen in sports at any time. While she was competing in the 1979 World Championships, Nadia cut her wrist on her metal grip buckle by accident. She was immediately taken to the hospital and got advised not to go back to competing in the games, but Nadia would not allow anything to get in her way. Thus, she defied doctors’ orders, returned to the competition, and unsurprisingly, won a gold medal – the first for her team.
Hands On
Moscow Summer Olympics
They knew they had very little time, so Nadia and Béla gave it their all. The pair trained nonstop for five, really intense weeks so that they could prepare for the competition that is happening soon. These Olympic Games, that were going to be in Moscow, became quite controversial. For example, the United States refused to send any team to compete to protest against the involvement of the USSR in Afghanistan. However, in the Russians’ minds, there was an even bigger problem — Nadia Comăneci.
Moscow Summer Olympics
Hecklers In The Crowd
Nadia would not get distracted from winning by anything. The attention of the world was refocused on her again, but she refused to allow the pressure to get to her. Drunk hecklers who were in the crowd, and even Russian soldiers who yelled “Fall, Nadia! Fall!” did not succeed in distracting her. Despite the fact that the amount of time she had to train before competing was not optimal, she still snagged two gold medals and two silver.
Hecklers In The Crowd
Unfair Scoring
Once again, the judges and spectators were blown away by Nadia and her flawless performances, though everything ahead was not smooth sailing. The judges took an incredibly long time to deliver her scores, and her coach, Béla Károlyi, suspected something was not right. Once the scores were revealed, they were way too low for Nadia’s performance. He made quite a scene, which was unfortunately captured and televised all over the globe. Some thought that Béla ’s antics embarrassed Romania, and he suddenly felt worried about his safety when he returned home.
Unfair Scoring
Mutual Respect
Even with the scandal in Moscow still in the air, the stellar Nadia earned herself one gold medal, in addition to the respect of the other competitors and admiration of her fans around the world. Nellie Kim, a USSR gymnast, hugged and congratulated Nadia on the podium. Kim even dispelled the idea that Nadia lacks feelings by saying this about Nadia: “She was psychologically prepared, not emotionless.”
Mutual Respect
Escaping The Grip
In 1981, the Gymnastics Federation created the tour “Nadia,” which was to promote Nadia all over America. The tour had Nadia go to 11 cities and it gave her an opportunity to be admired and loved by Americans. However, more importantly, the tour gave her coach a chance to be safe. Béla Károlyi defected to the US, leaving Nadia once more with an intense feeling of abandonment.
Escaping The Grip
No Way Out
The Romanian government was afraid that Nadia would defect also and that their star athlete would go somewhere else, so they banned Nadia from traveling to other countries. Her letters and phone calls were monitored and screened. She had no freedom or privacy. The only time that they allowed her to travel out of the country was when she went to Cuba and some European countries to compete.
No Way Out
Throwing In The Towel
In 1984, Nadia made a daring move when she made a decsion to retire from gymnastics. However, this decision meant she was only retiring from being a gymnast, not with being involved in the sport. Nadia became a coach for the gymnastics team of Romania. However, this would bring Nadia to a difficult position at future competitions.
Throwing In The Towel
The New Girl
When Nadia went to the 1984 Olympic Games with her country’s team, she got a shocking surprise. There, across the mats, was Béla Károlyi, her former coach. Béla was now with the U.S. gymnastics team as a coach and he had his incredible new protégé, Mary Lou Retton. Despite the fact that it hurt Nadia seeing him, in her heart she knew he had chosen the best option for him.
The New Girl
Mary Lou Retton
Mary Lou Retton was born on January 24th, 1968 and she had developed a passion for gymnastics. She attributed her passion to the performance of Nadia Comaenci at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. When Retton heard Nadia’s former coaches, Béla and Márta Károlyi, lived in Houston, Texas, Retton moved there to get training from them.
Mary Lou Retton
New Success
Soon, Retton’s training with Béla and Márta Károlyi paid off. At the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984, Retton became the first female athlete not from Eastern Europe to take home the individual all-around gold. Impressively, she was up against Romania’s Ecaterina Szabo at the competition.
New Success
Keeping Distance
Nadia couldn’t stop staring at the American team at the Olympic Games. Her heart was tearing up not because of Mary Lou Retton but because of her former coach, Béla. Nadia received strict orders not to speak to the man at all. Nadia felt her suffering, and she though she had to escape from Romania.
Keeping Distance
Hope On The Horizon
It was only in 1987, while she was at a party, that Nadia had a glimpse of her first opportunity at escape. She met quite an interesting guy named Constantin Panait, who claimed that he had defected to the US from Romania. In addition, he said he had gotten a US citizenship. Nadia had no clue how much Panait would change her life—for better and worse
Hope On The Horizon
The Only Chance
Because Panait had been able to show proof of being an American citizen, Nadia trusted him. In spite of it being risky, she made up her mind to follow him as well as attempt to get out of Romania. They were successful in doing so in 1989 by sneaking into Hungary first, and then Austria. In the end, they made it to the United States, actually by first flying through Canada. Only weeks after the two landed in the US, the Romanian Revolution overthrew the government.
The Only Chance
Goodbyes
Worse than making a decision to leave her home was having to bid her family goodbye. Nadia was worried her mother might suffer from a heart attack, though her brother told Nadia to calm down and to follow through with her plan.
Goodbyes
A Close Call
The journey they went on had its risks. Once, while they were trying to cross the Hungarian border, some patrolmen spotted Nadia’s group. As Nadia and the others were being questioned, the patrolmen recognized Nadia, but promptly allowed her to go without a single word. Pretty scary to think how differently things could have turned out.
A Close Call
A Mixed Reception
Understandably, Nadia’s arrival in America made big news and word quickly spread, with journalists hounding the Olympic star. They asked her, “What are your plans now?” among other things, and they were hungry for answers. Never the one to lose her cool under pressure, she answered questions with a little broken English and a smile. Some Americans were not really happy with her being in the US, owing to some nasty rumors that were spread around, but most of America was thrilled by Nadia’s arrival.
A Mixed Reception
Held Back
Once Béla Károlyi heard that Nadia successfully made it to the United States, he tried to get in touch with her, along with other people. As a matter of fact, many tried to contact her, though none of them got any response. What was the reason behind Nadia not returning any of their calls? It was because she did not get them as Constantin Panait intercepted them, and made sure Nadia never found out about them.
Held Back
Life Of Mystery
Nadia’s command of English was quite poor and Constantin Panait took advantage of this to isolate her. Something bizarre was happening between the two. Despite the fact that he was married, Panait and Nadia usually stayed together in hotels and motels. When the press asked her about this, she just said, “It’s a secret,” then stuck her tongue out. Something shady was surely going down.
Life Of Mystery
A Friend In Need
Nadia was only able to get some help when she went on a trip to Canada. While on holiday, she bumped into a friend, Alexandru Stefu, who asked her about the strange behavior she had surrounding Panait. Nadia opened up and revealed that Panait was actually keeping her against her will, so Stefu was furious and tried to confront Panait. Sensing that he was going to get into trouble, Panait ran off and fled Canada with a substantial amount of Nadia’s money but in spite of the way Panait treated her, Nadia still feels grateful that Panait helped her get to the US.
A Friend In Need
Bart Conner Returns
While Stefu was attempting to confront Panait, Nadia was getting ready for her guesting on the Pat Sajak Show. When Bart Conner heard about her guest appearance, he knew that he had to see Nadia again.
Bart Conner
Meeting Nadia Comăneci
What a flashback! Gymnasts Nadia and Bart met at the American Cup in 1976, so years had passed since the two had stood next to each other with their respective silver cups. Since Bart had set that chaste kiss on Nadia’s cheek, this was certainly going to be one big moment.
Meeting Nadia Comăneci
By All Means
Bart’s heart was beating fast when his flight arrived in Los Angeles. He had every intention of surprising Nadia and knew he didn’t have a lot of time to go to the studio where Nadia was scheduled to be interviewed. At 5:00pm, the show would start and his flight landed at 4:45pm. Bart found a way to get to the studio – he flew by helicopter!
By All Means
Reunited Again
Bart Conner entered the studio with a big bouquet of beautiful flowers. He walked towards Nadia Comăneci, gave her the bouquet, and planted a kiss on her cheek. Then, without planning to, proceeded to kiss her other cheek as well. The crowd went crazy, and everyone remembered the duo’s previous, iconic kiss.
Reunited Again
Friend Zone
Nadia did not have a clue that Bart was nursing a crush on her, and just thought he was quite a friendly and welcoming guy. At the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, she recalled that he bounced around a lot, from one person to another on the bus, speaking to everyone. She had no idea that he had his eye specifically on her.
Friend Zone
More than A Date
The two began spending more time together. They slowly came to the realization that the time they were spending together could be regarded as dates. They realized that they had becomes more than friends. After being together for four years, Bart popped the question and asked Nadia for her hand in marriage.
More Than A Date
Wedding Day
Nadia and Bart decided to fly across the Atlantic Ocean to celebrate their wedding. They wanted to tie the knot in Romania. Naturally, Nadia was a little skeptical—how would the people in her country welcome her after she defected to the United States? The couple must have been pretty surprised to see more than 10,000 adoring fans greet them.
Wedding Day
The Whole Nation
In 1996, Nadia and Bart got married and their wedding day turned into a national holiday, with the ceremony being televised for the entire country to watch. Some even referred to it as “the royal wedding of sport.” They must have had a beautiful wedding.
The Whole Nation
Little Bart
Ten years later, Nadia and Bart’s first child was born – son they named Dylan Paul. Slowly but surely, they were starting a family they raised in the United States. There was one time, during an interview, Nadia was asked by Isabelle Kumar if the sport star felt Romania or America was her home. She responded, “I am a Romanian, but I am adopted by America.”
Little Bart
A Secret Wonder
Growing up, Dylan Paul Conner thought his mom and dad were just like everyone else’s parents. However, he soon realized who they actually were. One day, he innocently asked, “Do you know that you’re famous?” to his mom. Nadia laughed and answered that she did, then showed him pictures of the different competitions that she and Bart took part in.
A Secret Wonder
Young And Old
In 2016, ten years after they welcomed Dylan into the world, Nadia went on Twitter in order to share with the world her happiness. She posted a photo of her ten-year-old with Martha Károlyi, her former coach’s wife. She wrote that this meeting made her feel like her life came “full circle.” This makes sense since the Károlyi couple had a big part in Nadia’s life and where she is now.
Young And Old
Coming Together
In 2016, Mary Lou Retton uploaded a photo to social media which made fans smile. The picture showed herself, Nadia, and Béla Károlyi all together. Retton captioned it with, “Two of my heroes!” No one needed any clearer sign that all was good between them.
Coming Together
Nadia Comăneci And Caitlyn Jenner
Nadia was one of the soon to be celebrities who competed at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada. Caitlyn Jenner was there as well, competing in Track and Field, but the gold medalists didn’t cross paths. Jenner explained, “Gymnastics finished before Track and Field started, so I was already gone by the time she competed.” The two eventually got the opportunity to meet in 2016 and they became friendly immediately.
Nadia Comăneci And Caitlyn Jenner
Nadia Comăneci And Arnold Schwarzenegger
Jenner is just one of the celebrities eager for an opportunity to meet the superstar gymnast. One day, while she was working out at a local gym, Nadia got spotted by a particular former California governor. Arnold Schwarzenegger could not stop himself from walking up to her and asking for a photo. “It is fantastic to get to the gym early and have an Olympic champion as your trainer – thanks Nadia Comaneci! 10 reps to honor the first perfect 10 score in the Olympics.” What’s more, they discussed training tips.
Nadia Comăneci And Arnold Schwarzenegger
Commentators
Nadia and Bart are more than just an amazing couple at home. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, they were each other’s company for the Games since they served as commentators. Now that’s what you call “doing what you love”!
Commentators
Judging Themselves
The Olympic Games in 2008 was not the last time the couple judged gymnastic talent, since the Olympic Committee thought of having some fun. They had a studio set up with cameras, a screen and microphones, and showed the routines of the two athletes from the best performances they had at the Olympics. Nadia and Bart then commentated on each of the performances. How sweet?
Judging Themselves
Running With Fire
Looking back, we can see one more time that this couple shared some special moment together. This photo shows them running one leg of the Salt Lake Olympic Torch Relay in Oklahoma in 2002. Nadia received this honor one more time.
Running With Fire
The Olympic Torch
In a stylish white tracksuit again, Nadia joined John Amaechi, the basketball star, on the roof of the 02 Arena before the Summer Olympics in London in 2012.
The Olympic Torch
Keeping Flexible
These days, Nadia spends plenty of time on the road. This means she has to be active and fit. Other than eating well and routinely doing exercise, Nadia believes that the key to staying flexible and young is stretching.
Keeping Flexible
Ten For Ten
The number “10” seems to have become special for Nadia Comaneci. Thus, it is not a surprise that she is worth about $10 million!
Ten For Ten
The Girl Next Door
To a lot of people, Nadia is both a national hero and an international one. However, back in her hometown, there is a small building named the “Memorial Nadia Comaneci Montreal” that is dedicated to the genius that is Nadia Comaneci. The monument stands to honor her for the many years to come.
The Girl Next Door
Letters To A Young Gymnast
It would be a shame to leave Nadia’s story untold, but after Nadia received encouragement to write about her story, she eventually did. “Letters To A Young Gymnast”, her biography, is not only an interesting read but also a guide on how to achieve the greatest desires of the heart, in spite of the difficulties that we face.
Letters To A Young Gymnast
Nadia Comăneci And Katie Holmes
It seems that Nadia just cannot keep celebrities away! The Hollywood actress Katie Holmes got enamored with the superstar Olympic athlete and made a move to approach Nadia about telling the athlete’s life story. The movie “Eternal Princess” was the end result.
Nadia Comăneci And Katie Holmes
A Lot In Common
The film was not only a tribute to Nadia’s life, it was also a telling of it. What’s more the movie, served to help others—particularly Holmes herself—get a chance to know Nadia on some kind of personal level. While they were working on the film, Holmes and Nadia didn’t take long to realize they had so much in common. Both ladies became famous while they were still really young, they both experienced very fast success and abrupt failure, and having to deal with overbearing partners.
A Lot In Common
Winning
“Eternal Princess” was not the only Hollywood experience Nadia has had. In 2016, Director Jacqueline Joseph made the documentary “Winning”, which featured a few of the greatest spotspeople from around the world. Some of the athletes included were: Dutch Paralympian Esther Vergeer, track and field great Edwin Moses, golf legend Jack Nicklaus, Tennis star Martina Navratilova, and Nadia Comaneci.
Winning
Visiting The White House
It appears as if everybody would like a piece of Nadia! In 2014, Nadia and husband Bart Conner even received invitations to the White House! They met then President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. It took place only a few months prior to the Special Olympics, and the visit sure generated quite a buzz!
Visiting The White House
The Special Olympics
While Nadia and Bart may have stopped competing in the Olympics, the pair are still a big part of the Games. As a matter of fact, they serve as ambassadors for the Special Olympics. This means their job is to trot all over the globe, gathering money and support for the Games and athletes themselves.
The Special Olympics
Nadia Comăneci and Donald Trump
Thinking of the Special Olympics, Nadia participated in Donald Trump’s The Apprentice, the celebrity edition. She didn’t succeed in raising the money she had wished to raise for the Special Olympics, but she had wonderful things to say about the experience, “I had great fun. I only did it because it was all for charity.”
Nadia Comăneci And Donald Trump
Their Projects
The Special Olympic Games are just one of the several philanthropic organizations which Nadia and Bart have some involvement in. The pair are also actively involved in the Muscular Dystrophy Association, an NGO that conducts research on neuromuscular diseases and provides services to patients suffering from the disease.
Their Projects
Nadia’s Clinic
Nadia and Bart may do plenty of volunteer work together, but Nadia also does a lot on her own. She opened the Nadia Comăneci Children’s Clinic, for example, in Bucharest. It provides subsidized or free social and medical services to children in Romania.
Nadias Clinic
The Youth Is The Future
Nadia is a staunch believer in sports’ positive benefits for young kids. She thinks sports are a great outlet for children’s energy as well as sports are great for the young ones’ health. Also, she believes that sports provide structure, which then helps kids learn not only discipline but aslo the joy of being able to achieve something.
The Youth Is The Future
Lifetime Achievements
It has been some time now since Nadia competed in the Olympics, but her influence is not over. As a matter of fact, in 1999, she was added to the list of ‘100 Most Important Women of the 20th Century’ by ABC News. What’s more, The International Association of Sports Writers included Nadia in the list of ‘25 Outstanding Sports People of the 20th Century’.
Lifetime Achievements
Fairytale Or Fate
Nadia’s life appears to be a bit hard to believe sometimes. Once, during an interview, someone asked her if, at any point, she felt that her life was like a fairytale. Nadia answered honestly: “I don’t want my life to be scripted, it becomes too cheesy. I brought motivation to my generation and the generation after me. You should never give up when it gets hard.”
Fairytale Or Fate
Connecting The Dots
In the same interview, Isabelle Kumar, the interviewer, went on to ask Nadia if she would want to change anything in her life if she could. The stellar athlete answered perfectly. She claimed that the person she is now was all thanks to the hardships she had endured. She said it was “connecting the dots”.
Connecting The Dots
An Epic Timelapse
Now, let’s have a look at this photographic time-lapse that shows the monumental gymnastic feat that Nadia Comaneci achieved. These are some moments that earned Nadia a historic perfect 10 at the Olympics.
An Epic Timelapse
Always Positive
Nadia’s smile couldn’t be erased. She never allowed the circumstances of her life to get her down. Even if it looked like the worst had happened, she always knew how to get up and continue moving forward.
Always Positive
Early Awards
Even at a young age, Nadia always wins at competitions. So it was not just her ambition that made her succeed, it was her passion as well.
Early Awards
Her Younger Brother
Nadia and her younger brother, Adrian Comăneci, can be seen enjoying a special moment together. They both had a tough childhood.
Her Younger Brother
In Amsterdam
Several countries around the globe are waiting for their lucky turn in having the legendary Nadia Comăneci go to their gym to train. This photo was taken in an Amsterdam gym in Holland.
In Amsterdam
Not Just Gymnastics
Looking at this old but precious photograph, you can see that similar to many athletes, Nadia loves several sports besides gymnastics. She likes soccer as well as skiing.
Not Just Gymnastics
Showing Them The Ropes
Nadia wants to share her gift with anyone who wishes to improve their skills. Nadia was given the task to train and motivate young gymnast from Romania, even if she herself was also very young.
Showing Them The Ropes
Signing Autographs
It is easier to show this picture than to describe it. She had probably thought that she could have a peaceful vacation. However, after becoming a national hero, she can no longer hide in the shadows. These kids were excited to get the great Nadia Comăneci’s autograph.
Signing Autographs
Sportsmanship
Having to put one’s ego aside and mutual respect are what sport is all about. However, it is always not that simple and we have to admit that.
Sportsmanship
The Physical Toll
Nadia’s hands suffered after countless days and long hours of training. However, even if it took a physical toll on her, it was never a setback.
The Physical Toll
Unreal
This kind of picture looks like it has been edited, but it is real. The spectators watch in astonishment as Nadia Comăneci is flying in the air during one of her perfect routines.
Unreal
What Balance
It is expected that Nadia’s core strength and balance were unbreakable since her body was generally made up of muscle and bones.
What Balance
Inspiring Young Lives
Nadia Comăneci is a great inspiration and a role model to everyone. Time and again Nadia has proven that if a person works hard, they can achieve anything. Nadia has overcome immense hardships, such as communist oppression, her parent’s divorce, having to leave her family, and a controlling partner, but all of these things have shaped her into the champion that we appreciate and love. Nadia teaches us different life lessons like pursuing your dreams, working hard, and never allowing life to get us down – such an amazing role model!
Inspiring Young Lives