Nadia Comaneci

Nadia Comăneci is a retired Romanian gymnast who is a notable figure among the gymnastics community for her record-breaking feats and Olympic achievements. Holding five Olympic medals, Nadia made history as the first and youngest gymnast to ever be awarded a perfect 10.0 during her time at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. 

Beginning her gymnastics career at the age of six, she was chosen to train in experimental gymnastics with Béla Károlyi's school. In 1970, she started to compete as a member of her home team, becoming the youngest gymnast to ever win the Romanian Nationals at age 9 and winning her first all-around title at her first international competition the following year. By age 11, Nadia had won all-around gold at the Junior Friendships Tournament, succeeding in taking the vault and uneven bars titles as well. Gaining international success at 13, Nadia almost swept the entire board at the 1975 European Women’s Athletic Gymnastics Championships in Norway, achieving gold in the all-around and taking gold in every event but floor, where she came in second place. That same year, she won the all-around at the ‘Champions All’ competition, coming first in the all-around vault, beam and bars at the Romanian National Championships. Continuing her success, at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, at aged just 14, Nadia became the first and youngest gymnast to ever score a perfect 10, earning six more to achieve three gold medals, a bronze and a silver. As a result of this feat, she became the first ever Romanian gymnast to win the Olympic all-around title and the youngest ever Olympic gymnast all-around Champion. In 1977, she successfully defended her European all-around title, going on to further make history in 1979 as the first gymnast to ever win a third consecutive European all-around title. At the Moscow Olympics, she earned two perfect 10s for the balance beam and uneven bars, achieving two golds and two silvers. After ‘Nadia ‘81’, her tour of the United States, her actions became extremely limited by the Romanian Government following her coach’s defection to America, living under surveillance for fears she would also defect. Nadia retired from gymnastics in 1984 and left the country in 1989, just weeks before the Romanian Revolution. 

Beginning her life in the United States, she established the Nadia Comaneci International Invitational in 1994, going on to host various international elite competitions in the mid-2010s. She co-owns the Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy, Perfect 10 Productions Company, several sports equipment shops, and personally funded the construction and operation of the Nadia Comăneci Children’s Clinic in Bucharest. Nadia’s incredible story has seen her become the subject of various films and documentaries, and her 2004 memoir, Letters to a Young Gymnast, details her trailblazing journey to athletic greatness. She has been named the most iconic gymnast of the 20th century by El País and one of the Athletes of the 20th century by Laureus World Sports Academy, recently winning their Lifetime Achievement Award. Nadia was ranked as BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year in 1976, Associated Press’ 1976 Female Athlete of the Year, and was awarded the Sickle and Hammer Gold Medal for her success, being named a Hero of Socialist Labour by the Romanian Government. 

As a result of her inspirational career, Nadia holds various sporting and ambassadorial roles and honours. She is an honorary president of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation, Honorary President of the Romanian Olympic Committee, a sports ambassador of Romania and is a member of the International Gymnastics Federation Foundation. Still a familiar face in the Olympic world, Nadia has featured in commercials for Adidas, provided commentary at the Beijing Games, carried the Olympic torch alongside John Amaechi to the roof of the O2 for the London Olympic Games, participated in the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony, and is an active figure in the Special Olympics. A truly extraordinary individual, Nadia understands what it takes to be the very best and consistently perform when the stakes couldn’t be higher.