Nadia Comaneci

Nadia Comaneci, the trailblazing Romanian gymnast, mesmerized the world with her flawless routines, earning seven perfect 10s at the 1976 Olympics and forever changing the sport.

Gymnast

November 12, 1961

Scorpio

63

Onesti, Moldava, Romania

Nadia Comăneci, the iconic Romanian gymnast, captivated the world with her extraordinary talent and achievements in the 1970s and 1980s. She made history at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, becoming the first gymnast to score a perfect 10.0, a feat she would achieve seven times throughout her career. This remarkable accomplishment earned her the nickname “the Perfect 10.”

Comăneci’s Olympic success was unparalleled, as she went on to win three gold medals, one silver, and one bronze in Montreal. Her dominance continued in subsequent years, with numerous European and World Championships titles to her name. By the time she retired from competitive gymnastics at the age of 20 in 1981, she had amassed an impressive collection of nine Olympic medals, including five golds.

Beyond her athletic achievements, Comăneci’s impact on gymnastics cannot be overstated. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time and was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1993. Her perfect 10.0 score at the 1976 Olympics was so unexpected that the scoreboard was not equipped to display it, showcasing the unprecedented nature of her accomplishment.

After retiring from gymnastics, Comăneci defected from Romania to the United States in 1989 and later became a U.S. citizen. She settled in Oklahoma with her husband, former Olympic gymnast Bart Conner, and they have two sons together. Comăneci has remained actively involved in the sport, serving as a gymnastics commentator and analyst for various television networks. She has also established the Nadia Comăneci Gymnastics Academy in the United States, inspiring future generations of gymnasts.

Nadia Comăneci’s legacy as a gymnastics legend endures, and her contributions to the sport continue to be celebrated and admired by fans worldwide.