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Engraved portrait of Nadia Comaneci
Sports · 1970s

Nadia Comaneci

In memoriam 1961–
Artistic GymnasticsSport
Represented RomaniaTeams
5 Olympic gold medals; 9 Olympic medals totalTitles
First Olympic perfect 10; youngest all-around championRecords
Nadia Elena Comaneci, Onesti, RomaniaBorn
The Turning Point

At the 1976 Montreal Olympics, the 14-year-old Comaneci became the first gymnast in Olympic history to be awarded a perfect score of 10.0. She earned seven perfect 10s and three gold medals, instantly becoming a worldwide sensation and the face of her sport.

Nadia Comaneci at the 1976 Montreal Olympics
Nadia Comaneci at the 1976 Montreal Olympics

Romanian Prodigy

Born in Onesti, Romania, Comaneci was discovered by coach Bela Karolyi as a young child. Her flawless technique and fearlessness set her apart from an early age.

Nadia Comaneci competing in 1977
Nadia Comaneci competing in 1977

Perfection in Montreal

At the 1976 Olympics, the 14-year-old earned the first perfect 10 ever awarded in Olympic gymnastics. She collected seven perfect scores and three gold medals, captivating the world.

Freedom and Legacy

After retiring, Comaneci defected from Romania in 1989 to the United States. She married gymnast Bart Conner and became an ambassador for the sport and for Special Olympics.

Career Timeline

  1. 1970Wins Romanian National Championships at age 8
  2. 1975Wins European Championship all-around title
  3. 1976Scores first perfect 10 in Olympic history
  4. 1976Wins three Montreal Olympic gold medals
  5. 1977Defends European all-around championship
  6. 1979Wins third straight European all-around title
  7. 1980Wins two more golds at Moscow Olympics
  8. 1981Retires from competitive gymnastics
  9. 1989Defects from Romania to the West
  10. 1993Inducted into International Gymnastics Hall of Fame

Biggest Hits

1976
First perfect 10 in Olympic historyScored on the uneven bars in Montreal
1976
Three Montreal Olympic gold medalsAll-around, balance beam and uneven bars
1976
Seven perfect 10s at one OlympicsUnprecedented dominance at age 14
1980
Five Olympic gold medals overallAcross the 1976 and 1980 Games
1979
Three European all-around titlesWon the continental crown three times
1976
Olympic all-around championYoungest gymnast to win the all-around gold
Did You Know
  • The scoreboard in Montreal could not display '10.0', so her perfect score appeared as '1.00' because the system was never programmed for it.
  • She defected from communist Romania in 1989 and later married American Olympic gold medalist gymnast Bart Conner.

Portrait: Comitetul Olimpic si Sportiv Roman · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

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