Editing Nadia Comăneci

{{short description|Romanian gymnast (born 1961)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox gymnast
| name            = Nadia Comăneci
| image           = 25th Laureus World Sports Awards - Comaneci - 240421 142851-2.jpg
| caption         = Comăneci in 2024
| fullname        = Nadia Elena Comăneci
| nickname        = Nana
| country         = {{flagcountry|Socialist Republic of Romania}}
| birth_date      = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1961|11|12}}
| birth_place     = [[Onești]], [[Socialist Republic of Romania|Romanian PR]]<ref name=sr/>
| spouse          = {{marriage|[[Bart Conner]]|1996}}
| height          = {{height|ft=5|in=3.5}}<ref name=sr>{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/co/nadia-comaneci-1.html |title=Nadia Comăneci |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203201255/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/co/nadia-comaneci-1.html |archive-date=December 3, 2016}}</ref>
| discipline      = WAG
| natlteam        = 1970–1984 ([[Romania women's national gymnastics team|ROU]])
| gym             = National Training Center
| collegeteam     = Politehnica University of Bucharest
| headcoach       =
| assistcoach     = 
| formercoach     = [[Béla Károlyi]]<br />[[Márta Károlyi]]
| choreographer   = Géza Pozsár
| music           = 
| eponymousskills = [[Comăneci salto]] (uneven bars)
| retired         = May 7, 1984 (official)
| show-medals     = no
| medaltemplates  = {{MedalCountry | {{Flagcountry|ROU|1965}} }}
{{MedalSport | Women's [[artistic gymnastics]]}}
{{MedalCount
| [[Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] | 5|3|1
| [[World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|World Championships]] | 2|2|0
| [[FIG World Cup|World Cup Final]] | 2|1|0
| [[European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships|European Championships]] | 9|2|1
| [[FISU World University Games|Summer Universiade]] | 5|0|0
| total=yes
}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
[[File:Olympic rings.svg|center|60px]]
{{MedalGold|[[Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Montréal]]|[[Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Women's artistic individual all-around|All-Around]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Montréal]]|[[Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Women's uneven bars|Uneven Bars]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Montréal]]|[[Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Women's balance beam|Balance Beam]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics|1980 Moscow]]|[[Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Women's balance beam|Balance Beam]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics|1980 Moscow]]|[[Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Women's floor|Floor Exercise]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Montréal]]|[[Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Women's artistic team all-around|Team]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics|1980 Moscow]]|[[Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Women's artistic team all-around|Team]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics|1980 Moscow]]|[[Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Women's artistic individual all-around|All-Around]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Montréal]]|[[Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Women's floor|Floor Exercise]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1978 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1978 Strasbourg]]|Balance Beam}}
{{MedalGold|[[1979 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1979 Ft. Worth]]|Team}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1978 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1978 Strasbourg]]|Team}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1978 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1978 Strasbourg]]|Vault}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIG World Cup Final|World Cup Final]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[List of medalists at the FIG World Cup Final#Artistic gymnastics|1979 Tokyo]]|Vault}}
{{MedalGold|[[List of medalists at the FIG World Cup Final#Artistic gymnastics|1979 Tokyo]]|Floor Exercise}}
{{MedalSilver|[[List of medalists at the FIG World Cup Final#Artistic gymnastics|1979 Tokyo]]| Balance Beam}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships|European Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1975 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1975 Skien]]|All-Around}}
{{MedalGold|[[1975 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1975 Skien]]|Uneven Bars}}
{{MedalGold|[[1975 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1975 Skien]]|Balance Beam}}
{{MedalGold|[[1975 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1975 Skien]]|Vault}}
{{MedalGold|[[1977 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1977 Prague]]|All-Around}}
{{MedalGold|[[1977 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1977 Prague]]|Uneven Bars}}
{{MedalGold|[[1979 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1979 Copenhagen]]|All-Around}}
{{MedalGold|[[1979 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1979 Copenhagen]]|Vault}}
{{MedalGold|[[1979 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1979 Copenhagen]]|Floor Exercise}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1975 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1975 Skien]]|Floor Exercise}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1977 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1977 Prague]]|Vault}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1979 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1979 Copenhagen]]|Balance Beam}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Universiade|Summer Universiade]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[Gymnastics at the 1981 Summer Universiade|1981 Bucharest]]|Team}}
{{MedalGold | [[Gymnastics at the 1981 Summer Universiade|1981 Bucharest]]|All-Around}}
{{MedalGold | [[Gymnastics at the 1981 Summer Universiade|1981 Bucharest]]|Uneven Bars}}
{{MedalGold | [[Gymnastics at the 1981 Summer Universiade|1981 Bucharest]]|Vault}}
{{MedalGold | [[Gymnastics at the 1981 Summer Universiade|1981 Bucharest]]|Floor Exercise}} 
}}

'''Nadia Elena Comăneci Conner'''{{efn|{{IPAc-en|UK|ˌ|k|ɒ|m|ə|ˈ|n|ɛ|tʃ|(|i|)}} {{respell|KOM|ə|NETCH(|ee)}}, {{IPAc-en|US|ˈ|k|oʊ|m|ə|n|iː|tʃ|,_|ˌ|k|oʊ|m|ə|ˈ|n|iː|tʃ}} {{respell|KOH|mə|neech|,_-|NEECH}},<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/comaneci |title=Comaneci |work=[[Collins English Dictionary]] |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |access-date=July 27, 2021}}</ref><ref>[https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/Comaneci,_Nadia "Comaneci, Nadia"]{{dead link|date=September 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} (US) and {{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Comaneci,+Nadia |title=Comaneci, Nadia |dictionary=[[Lexico|Oxford Dictionaries]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> {{IPAc-ro|lang|audio=Ro-Nadia Comăneci.ogg|'|n|a|d|i|.|a|_|c|o|m|ă|'|n|e|ci}}.}} ({{née|'''Comăneci'''}}; born November 12, 1961) is a [[Romanians|Romanian]] retired [[gymnastics|gymnast]]. She is a five-time Olympic gold medalist, all in individual events. In 1976, at the age of 14, Comăneci was the first gymnast to be awarded a [[perfect 10 (gymnastics)|perfect score of 10.0]] at the Olympic Games.<ref>[https://www.olympic.org/nadia-comaneci Gymnast Nadia Comăneci  Became the Queen of the 1976 Montreal Games when she was Awarded the First Perfect Score].</ref> At the same Games ([[1976 Summer Olympics]] in [[Montreal]]), she received six more perfect 10s for events en route to winning three gold medals. At the [[1980 Summer Olympics]] in [[Moscow]], she won two more gold medals and achieved two more perfect 10s. During her career, she won nine Olympic medals and four [[World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|World Artistic Gymnastics Championship]] medals.

One of the world's best-known gymnasts, Comăneci was praised for her artistry and grace,<ref name="Artisty">{{cite news |title=Lost art: Powerhouse physiques winning out over spellbinding grace |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13184916.lost-art-powerhouse-physiques-winning-spellbinding-grace/ |access-date=January 8, 2022 |work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|Herald Scotland]] |quote=Unlike Nadia Comaneci and Olga Korbut, modern gymnasts such as Simone Biles are rewarded for their athleticism more than their artistry... the spellbinding artistry that not only gave the sport its name, but brought it global fame.}}</ref> which brought unprecedented global popularity to the sport in the mid-1970s.<ref name="Artisty"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Head over heels |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2001/jan/14/features.magazine47 |access-date=January 8, 2022 |work=The Guardian |quote=In the early to mid-70s, with ambassadors like Korbut and Comaneci, gymnastics was at its popular peak.}}</ref><ref name="infoplease">{{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/society/A0822234.html |title=Gymnastics |access-date=September 6, 2007 |publisher=infoplease.com |year=2007 |encyclopedia=The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed.}}</ref> Called "the most iconic gymnast of the 20th century" by ''[[El País]]'',<ref name="El Pais"/> Comăneci was named one of the Athletes of the 20th century by the [[Laureus World Sports Awards|Laureus World Sports Academy]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/04/29/nadiacomaneci/index.html |work=CNN |title=Nadia Comăneci |date=July 7, 2008}}</ref>

Comăneci has lived in the United States since 1989, when she defected from [[Socialist Republic of Romania|then-Communist Romania]], before its [[Romanian revolution|revolution in December that year]]. She later worked with and married American Olympic gold-medal gymnast [[Bart Conner]] — a wedding which was held in Bucharest after the fall of the Communist regime and televised live in Romania. Born on 12 November 1961, being gymnast from 1970 to 1984 and first known internationally in 1976, at a pre-adult age. Her achievement made in the year when she became known internationally made her a legendary figure. 

== Early life ==
[[File:Onesti in Romania.png|thumb|left|upright|[[Onești]] (''Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej'' between 1965 and 1989), the town where Comăneci was born]]
Nadia Elena Comăneci was born on November 12, 1961, in [[Onești]], a small town in the [[Carpathian Mountains]], in [[Bacău County]], [[Romania]], in the historical region of [[Western Moldavia]].<ref name=smiled>{{cite web |url=https://serpentstail.com/the-little-communist-who-never-smiled.html |title=The Little Communist Who Never Smiled |access-date=August 27, 2016 |last=Lafon |first=Lola |publisher=[[Serpent's Tail]]/[[Profile Books]] |archive-date=August 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822015041/https://serpentstail.com/the-little-communist-who-never-smiled.html |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=remind>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/nadia-comaneci-remind-romania-article-1.2740934 |title=Gymnastics legend Nadia Comaneci wants to remind everyone she's from Romania |access-date=September 4, 2016 |date=August 6, 2016 |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref> She was born to Gheorghe (1936–2012) and Ștefania Comăneci, and has a younger brother.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gymn-forum.net/Articles/Misc-Comaneci_YA.html |title=Olympic Champion Nadia Comaneci |website=www.gymn-forum.net}}</ref> Her parents separated in the 1970s and her father later moved to [[Bucharest]], the capital.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.evz.ro/tatal-nadiei-comaneci-a-murit-961238.html |title=Nadia Comăneci despre moartea tatălui său: "Este un moment deosebit de greu" |date=January 12, 2012}}</ref> She and her brother, Adrian, were raised in the [[Romanian Orthodox Church]].<ref>Comăneci, p. 5.</ref> In a 2011 interview, her mother said that she enrolled Comăneci into gymnastics classes because, as a child, she was so full of energy and active that she was difficult to manage.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.libertatea.ro/sport/stefania-comaneci-mama-nadiei-sunt-mandra-de-ea-665179 |title=Ştefania Comăneci, mama Nadiei: "Sunt mândră de ea!" &#124; Alte sporturi, Sport |date=November 11, 2011 |website=Libertatea}}</ref> After years of top-level athletic competition, Comăneci graduated from [[Politehnica University of Bucharest]] with a degree in [[Physical education|sports education]], which qualified her to coach gymnastics.<ref>Comăneci, pp. 94 and 121.</ref>

== Gymnastics career ==
=== Early gymnastics career ===
[[File:Nadia Comăneci Prague1977.jpeg|thumb|upright|left|Nadia Comăneci during the European Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia in May 1977]]

Nadia began gymnastics in kindergarten with a local team called ''Flacără'' ("The Flame"), with coaches Duncan and Munteanu.<ref name=Fischer>{{cite web |url=http://www.gymn.ca/gymnasticgreats/wag/comaneci.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528004353/http://www.gymn.ca/gymnasticgreats/wag/comaneci.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 28, 2010 |title=Nadia Comaneci, a living legend.... |author=Fisher, Barbara; Isbister, Jennifer |work=Gymnastics Greats |publisher=Gymn.ca |date=November 15, 2003 |access-date=October 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>Comăneci</ref> At age 6, she was chosen to attend [[Béla Károlyi]]'s experimental gymnastics school, after Károlyi spotted her and a friend turning [[Cartwheel (gymnastics)|cartwheels]] in a schoolyard.<ref name="Comaneci2011p17">Comăneci, pp. 17–19.</ref><ref name=si>Deford, Frank. [https://www.si.com/vault/1976/08/02/615419/nadia-comaneci-1976-olympics-perfect-scores "Nadia Awed Ya"]. ''Sports Illustrated''. August 2, 1976.</ref> Károlyi was looking for gymnasts he could train from a young age. When recess ended, the girls quickly went inside and Károlyi went around the classrooms trying to find them; he eventually spotted Comăneci. The other girl, Viorica Dumitru, developed in a different direction and became one of Romania's top [[Ballet|ballerinas]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.heraldweekly.com/nadia-comaneci-romanias-national-treasure/3 |title=Made In Romania - Nadia Comăneci- Romania’s National Treasure |last=Salen |first=Erika |date=September 26, 2024 |website=heraldweekly.com |access-date=February 21, 2025}}</ref>

By 1968, when she was seven, Comăneci started training with Károlyi. She was one of the first students at the gymnastics school established in Onești by Károlyi and his wife, [[Márta Károlyi|Márta]]. As a resident of the town, Comăneci was able to live at home for many years; most of the other students boarded at the school.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.themorning.lk/articles/135790 |title=The unbelievable story of Nadia Comăneci |date=15 May 2021 |website=themorning.lk |access-date=21 February 2025}}</ref>

In 1970, Comăneci began competing as a member of her home town team and, at age nine, became the youngest gymnast ever to win the Romanian Nationals. In 1971 she participated in her first international competition, a dual junior meet between Romania and [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]], winning her first [[List of gymnastics terms#A|all-around]] title and contributing to the team [[Gold medal|gold]]. For the next few years, she competed as a junior in numerous national contests in Romania and dual meets with countries such as [[Hungary]], [[Italy]] and [[Poland]].<ref name="List of competitive results">[http://www.gymn-forum.net/bios/women/comaneci.html List of competitive results] Gymn-Forum</ref> At the age of 11, in 1973, she won the all-around gold, as well as the [[Vault (gymnastics)|vault]] and [[uneven bars]] titles, at the Junior Friendship Tournament (Druzhba), an important international meet for junior gymnasts.<ref name="List of competitive results"/><ref>Comăneci, pp. 27–28.</ref>

Comăneci's first major international success came at the age of 13, when she nearly swept the board at the 1975 [[European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships]] in [[Skien]], [[Norway]]. She won the all-around and gold medals in every event but the [[Floor (gymnastics)|floor exercise]], in which she was placed second. She continued to enjoy success that year, winning the all-around at the 'Champions All' competition and coming first in the all-around, vault, [[Balance beam|beam]] and bars at the [[Romanian Gymnastics National Championships|Romanian National Championships]]. In the pre-Olympic test event in [[Montreal]] Comăneci won the all-around and the balance beam golds as well as [[Silver medal|silvers]] in the vault, floor and bars. Accomplished [[Soviet people|Soviet gymnast]] [[Nellie Kim]] won the golds in those events and was one of Comăneci's greatest rivals for the next five years.<ref name="List of competitive results"/>
[[File:Memorial Nadia Comaneci.jpg|thumb|Monument dedicated to the [[Onești]] gymnastics school champions including Comăneci]]

===1976===
====American Cup====
In March 1976, Comăneci competed in the inaugural edition of the [[American Cup (Gymnastics)|American Cup]] at [[Madison Square Garden]] in Manhattan. She received rare scores of 10, which signified a perfect routine without any deductions, for her vault in the preliminary stage and for her floor exercise routine in the final of the all-around competition, which she won.<ref>[http://www.gymn-forum.net/Articles/NYT-1976_AmCup2.html "Gymnast Posts Perfect Mark"] Robin Herman, ''[[New York Times]],'' March 28, 1976.</ref> During this competition, Comăneci met American gymnast [[Bart Conner]] for the first time. While he remembered this meeting, Comăneci noted in her memoirs that she had to be reminded of it later in life. She was 14 and Conner was celebrating his 18th birthday.<ref>Comăneci, p. 53.</ref> They both won a silver cup and were photographed together. A few months later, they participated in the [[1976 Summer Olympics]] that Comăneci dominated, while Conner was a marginal figure. Conner later said, "Nobody knew me, and [Comăneci] certainly didn't pay attention to me."<ref name=first>{{cite web |url=http://www.wherearetheynow.buzz/adorable-way-olympic-couple-first-met |title=The Adorable Way This Olympic Couple First Met |access-date=August 19, 2016 |date=2016 |publisher=[[Oprah: Where Are They Now?]]}}</ref>

====1976 Summer Olympics====
[[File:Nadia Comăneci Montreal1976f.jpg|thumb|left|Comăneci at the 1976 Olympics]]
{{blockquote|At Montreal [Comăneci] received four of her seven 10s on the uneven bars. The apparatus demands such a spectacular burst of energy in such a short time—only 23 seconds—that it attracts the most fanfare. But it is on the beam that her work seems more representative of her considerable skill. She scored three of her seven 10s on the beam. Her hands speak there as much as her body. Her pace magnifies her balance. Her command and distance hush the crowd. |source=''[[Sports Illustrated]]'', 1976<ref name=si/>}}

[[File:Nadia Comăneci Montreal1976c.jpg|thumb|right|Comăneci at the 1976 Olympics]]
On July 18, 1976, Comăneci made history at the Montreal Olympics. During the team compulsory portion of the competition, she was awarded the first [[Perfect 10 (gymnastics)|perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics]] for her routine on the [[Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Women's uneven bars|uneven bars]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBrwQ7-I6t8 |title=Nadia Comaneci's perfect 10 &#124; Epic Olympic Moments |date=December 10, 2015 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usghof.org/files/bio/n_comaneci/n_comaneci.html |title=Biography: COMANECI, Nadia |publisher=U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame |access-date=July 17, 2011}}</ref><ref name=Cousineau>{{cite book |last1=Cousineau |first1=Phil |year=2003 |title=The Olympic Odyssey: Rekindling the True Spirit of the Great Games |pages=[https://archive.org/details/olympicodysseyre0000cous/page/160 160–161] |publisher=Quest Books |isbn=0835608336 |url=https://archive.org/details/olympicodysseyre0000cous/page/160}}</ref> [[Omega SA]], the official Olympics scoreboard manufacturer, had been led to believe that competitors could not receive a perfect ten, and had not programmed the scoreboard to display this score.<ref name=guardian20111214>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/london-2012-olympics-blog/2011/dec/14/50-olympic-moments-nadia-comaneci |title=50 stunning Olympic moments No5: Nadia Comaneci scores a perfect 10 |work=The Guardian |date=December 14, 2011 |access-date=July 31, 2012}}</ref> Comăneci's perfect 10 thus appeared as "1.00," the only means by which the judges could indicate that she had received a 10.<ref name=Cousineau /><ref name="Still A Perfect 10">{{cite web |first=Paul |last=Ziert |title=Still A Perfect 10 |url=http://www.olympic.org/upload/news/olympic_review/review_2005628172259_UK.pdf |year=2005 |publisher=Olympic Review |access-date=June 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080627102550/http://www.olympic.org/upload/news/olympic_review/review_2005628172259_UK.pdf |archive-date=June 27, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

During the remainder of the Montreal Games, Comăneci earned six additional "10s". She won gold medals for [[Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Women's artistic individual all-around|the individual all-around]], [[Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Women's balance beam|the balance beam]] and [[Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Women's uneven bars|uneven bars]]. She also won a bronze for the [[Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Women's floor|floor exercise]] and a silver as part of the [[Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Women's artistic team all-around|team all-around]].<ref name="InterGym">[https://web.archive.org/web/20011006172435/http://www.intlgymnast.com/legends/comaneci.html Legends: Nadia Comăneci] ''International Gymnast'' magazine</ref> [[Soviet people|Soviet]] gymnast [[Nellie Kim]] was [[Nellie Kim#Olympics and World Championships|her main rival during the Montreal Olympics]]; Kim became the second gymnast to receive a perfect ten, in her case for her performance on the vault.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gymn.ca/gymnasticgreats/wag/kim_nelli.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227005926/http://www.gymn.ca/gymnasticgreats/wag/kim_nelli.htm |url-status=dead |title=Nellie Kim (URS) |archive-date=February 27, 2011}}</ref> Comăneci took over the media spotlight from gymnast [[Olga Korbut]], who had been the darling of the 1972 Munich Games.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nadia Comaneci Takes Gymnast Title on 4th, 5th Perfect Scores |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/07/22/archives/nadia-comaneci-takes-gymnast-title-on-4th-5th-perfect-scores-shes.html |access-date=January 8, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=July 22, 1976}}</ref>

Comăneci was the first Romanian gymnast to win the Olympic all-around title. She also holds the record as the youngest ever Olympic gymnastics all-around champion at age 14. The sport has since raised its age-eligibility requirements so that gymnasts must be at least 16 in the same calendar year of the Olympics in order to compete. When Comăneci competed in 1976, gymnasts had only to be 14 by the first day of the competition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Within the International Federations |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1980/ore155/ORE155p.pdf |year=1980 |publisher=Olympic Review |access-date=June 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808171711/http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1980/ore155/ORE155p.pdf |archive-date=August 8, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Unless the age of eligibility is lowered, Comăneci's record cannot be broken.

She was ranked as the [[BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year|BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year]] for 1976<ref name="Dodd">{{cite web |url=http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/olympics/article.html?in_article_id=244046 |title=Top Five: Teenage Sensations |first=Marc |last=Dodd |work=[[Metro (Associated Metro Limited)|Metro]] |date=August 1, 2008 |access-date=January 11, 2009 |archive-date=September 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920003808/http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/extra/244046-top-five-teenage-sensations |url-status=dead}}</ref> and the [[Associated Press]]' 1976 "[[Associated Press Athlete of the Year|Female Athlete of the Year]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://encarta.msn.com/media_701500051_761551983_-1_1/Associated_Press_Athletes_of_the_Year.html |title=Associated Press Athletes of the Year |publisher=MSN.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090407220626/http://encarta.msn.com/media_701500051_761551983_-1_1/Associated_Press_Athletes_of_the_Year.html |archive-date=April 7, 2009}}</ref> Back home in Romania, Comăneci was awarded the [[Hammer and sickle|Sickle and Hammer]] Gold Medal for her success,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lege5.ro/Gratuit/he2timjx/decretul-nr-250-1976-privind-conferirea-de-distinctii-ale-republicii-socialiste-romania-unor-sportivi-antrenori-si-activisti-din-domeniul-educatiei-fizice-si-sportului |title=Decretul nr. 250/1976 privind conferirea de distinctii ale Republicii Socialiste Romania unor sportivi, antrenori si activisti din domeniul educatiei fizice si sportului |language=ro |access-date=April 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411103930/https://lege5.ro/Gratuit/he2timjx/decretul-nr-250-1976-privind-conferirea-de-distinctii-ale-republicii-socialiste-romania-unor-sportivi-antrenori-si-activisti-din-domeniul-educatiei-fizice-si-sportului |archive-date=April 11, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and she was named a [[Hero of Socialist Labor]]. She was the youngest Romanian to receive such recognition during the administration of [[Nicolae Ceaușescu]].<ref name=Fischer/>

====="Nadia's Theme"=====
"[[Nadia's Theme]]" refers to an instrumental piece that became linked to Comăneci shortly after the 1976 Olympics. It was part of the musical score of the 1971 film ''[[Bless the Beasts and Children (film)|Bless the Beasts and Children]]'' and originally titled "Cotton's Dream". It was also used as the title theme music for the American soap opera ''[[The Young and the Restless]]''.

[[Robert Riger]] used it in association with slow-motion montages of Comăneci on the television program ''[[Wide World of Sports (U.S. TV series)|ABC's Wide World Of Sports]]''. The song became a top-10 single in the fall of 1976, and composers [[Barry De Vorzon]] and [[Perry Botkin Jr.]] renamed it as "Nadia's Theme" in Comăneci's honor.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080131081004/http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/profiles/bio_uk.asp?PAR_I_ID=44503 "Nadia Comăneci: The Perfect 10"] International Olympic Committee (IOC) website</ref> Comăneci never performed to "Nadia's Theme", however. Her floor exercise music was a medley of the songs "[[Yes Sir, That's My Baby (song)|Yes Sir, That's My Baby]]" and "[[Jump in the Line]]", arranged for piano.<ref name=si />

===1977–1979===
Comăneci successfully defended her European all-around title at the championship competition in 1977. When questions were raised at the competition about the scoring, Ceaușescu ordered the Romanian gymnasts to return home. The team followed orders amid controversy and walked out of the competition during the event finals.<ref name=Fischer/><ref>Comăneci, pp. 61–62.</ref>

Following the 1977 Europeans, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation removed Comăneci from her longtime coaches, the Károlyis, and sent her to [[Bucharest]] on August 23 to train at the sports complex. She did not find this change positive and was struggling with bodily changes as she grew older. Her gymnastics skills suffered, and she was unhappy to the point of losing the desire to live.<ref name=Fischer/><ref>Comăneci, pp. 64–68.</ref> After surviving a suicide attempt,<ref>{{cite web |title=Comaneci Confirms Suicide Attempt, Magazine Says |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-02-19-sp-869-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=February 19, 1990}}</ref> Comăneci competed in the [[1978 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1978 World Championships]] in [[Strasbourg]] "seven inches taller and a stone and a half [21 pounds] heavier" than she was in the 1976 Olympics.<ref name=guardian20111214/> A fall from the uneven bars resulted in a fourth-place finish in the all-around behind Soviets [[Elena Mukhina]], [[Nellie Kim]], and [[Natalia Shaposhnikova]]. Comăneci did win the world title on beam, and a silver on vault.<ref name=guardian20111214/>

After the 1978 "Worlds", Comăneci was permitted to return to Deva and the Károlyis' school.<ref>Comăneci, pp. 68–72.</ref> In 1979, Comăneci won her third consecutive European all-around title, becoming the first gymnast, male or female, to achieve this feat. At the [[1979 World Championships in Artistic Gymnastics|World Championships]] in [[Fort Worth]] that December, Comăneci led the field after the compulsory competition. She was hospitalized before the optional portion of the team competition for blood poisoning, which had resulted from a cut in her wrist from her metal grip buckle. Against doctors' orders, she left the hospital and competed on the beam, where she scored a 9.95. Her performance helped give the Romanians their first team gold medal. After her performance, Comăneci spent several days recovering in All Saints Hospital. She had to undergo a minor surgical procedure for the infected hand, which had developed an [[abscess]].<ref>[http://www.gymn-forum.net/Articles/Misc-Comaneci-1979.html "Nadia."] ''The Epistle,'' (All Saints Episcopal Hospital), January 1980.</ref><ref>Comăneci, pp. 87–91.</ref><ref>''Little Girls in Pretty Boxes.'' Ryan, Joan. 1995, Doubleday. {{ISBN|0-385-47790-2}}.</ref>

===1980–1984===

====1980 Summer Olympics====
[[File:Nadia Comăneci Moscow1980.jpeg|thumb|upright|left|Comăneci in Moscow, 1980]]
Comăneci was chosen to participate in the [[1980 Summer Olympics]] in [[Moscow#Soviet era (1917–1991)|Moscow]]. As a result of the [[Soviet–Afghan War|Soviet invasion of Afghanistan]], [[President of the United States|President]] [[Jimmy Carter]] declared that the United States would [[1980 Summer Olympics boycott|boycott the Olympics]] (several other countries also participated in the boycott, though their reasons varied). According to Comăneci, the Romanian government "touted the 1980 Olympic games as the first all-Communist Games." However, she also noted in her memoir, "in Moscow, we walked into the mouth of a lion's den; it was the Russians' home turf."<ref>Comăneci, p. 98.</ref> She won two gold medals, one for the [[Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Women's balance beam|balance beam]] and one for the [[Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Women's floor|floor exercise]] (in which she tied with Soviet gymnast Nellie Kim, against whom she had also competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics and other events). She also won two silver medals, one for [[Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Women's artistic team all-around|the team all-around]] and one for [[Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Women's artistic individual all-around|individual all-around]]. Controversies arose concerning the scoring in the all-around and floor exercise competitions.{{r|guardian20111214}} As of the [[2020 Summer Games]], she is the only gymnast to defend her Olympic gold medal in the balance beam apparatus.

Her coach, Bela Károlyi, protested that she was scored unfairly. His protests were captured on television. According to Comăneci's memoir, the Romanian government was upset about Károlyi's public behavior, feeling that he had humiliated them. Life became very difficult for Károlyi from that point on.<ref>Comăneci, pp. 99–105.</ref>

===="Nadia '81"====
[[File:Nadia Comăneci Moscow1980c.jpg|thumb|upright|Comăneci on the [[balance beam]], 1980]]

In 1981, the Gymnastics Federation contacted Comăneci and informed her that she would be part of an official tour of the United States named "Nadia '81" and her coaches [[Béla Károlyi|Béla]] and [[Márta Károlyi]] would lead the group. During this tour, Comăneci's team shared a bus trip with American gymnasts; it was the third time she had encountered Bart Conner. They had earlier met in 1976. She later remembered thinking, "Conner was cute. He bounced around the bus talking to everyone—he was incredibly friendly and fun."<ref>Comăneci, pp. 111–112.</ref>

The Károlyis [[Defection#International politics|defected]] on the last day of the tour, along with the Romanian team choreographer Géza Pozsár. Prior to defecting, Károlyi hinted a few times to Comăneci that he might attempt to do so and indirectly asked if she wanted to join him. At that time, she had no interest in defecting, and said she wanted to go home to Romania. After the defection of the Károlyis, life changed drastically for Comăneci in Romania, as she could not have predicted. Officials feared that she would also defect. Feeling she was a national asset, they strictly monitored her actions, refusing to allow her to travel outside the country.<ref name="p121">Comăneci, p. 121.</ref>

====1984 Summer Olympics====
The government did allow Comăneci to participate in the [[1984 Summer Olympics]] in [[Los Angeles]] as part of the Romanian delegation. Although a number of Communist nations [[1984 Summer Olympics boycott|boycotted the 1984 Summer Olympics]] in a [[tit-for-tat]] against the U.S.-led boycott of the Olympics in Moscow four years before, Romania chose to participate. Comăneci later wrote in her memoir that many believed Romania went to the Olympics because an agreement had been made with the United States not to accept defectors. But Comăneci did not participate in the Games as a member of the Romanian team; she served as an observer. She was able to see Károlyi's new protégé, American gymnast [[Mary Lou Retton]], who won five medals, including one gold. The Romanian delegation did not allow her to talk with Károlyi and closely watched her the entire time.<ref>Comăneci, pp. 125–6.</ref>

====Retirement====
[[File:Nadia Comăneci 2016 stamp of Romania.jpg|thumb|right|A 2016 Romanian postage stamp showing Comăneci on the balance beam at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal]]
The Romanian government continued to restrict Comăneci from leaving Romania, aside from a few select trips to Moscow and Cuba. Throughout her career, she had been subjected to round-the-clock surveillance at the hands of the [[Securitate]] secret police.<ref name="El Pais">{{cite news |title=Everything the Romanian secret police knew about Nadia Comaneci |url=https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-09-06/everything-the-romanian-secret-police-knew-about-nadia-comaneci.html |access-date=May 3, 2024 |work=El Pais}}</ref> She had started thinking about retiring a few years earlier, but her official retirement ceremony took place in Bucharest in 1984. It was attended by the chairman of the [[International Olympic Committee]].<ref name="Still A Perfect 10" />

Comăneci later wrote in her memoir:
<blockquote>Life took on a new bleakness. I was cut off from making the small amount of extra money that had really made a difference in my family's life. It was also insulting that a normal person in Romania had the chance to travel, whereas I could not ... when my gymnastics career was over, there was no longer any need to keep me happy. I was to do as I was instructed, just as I'd done my entire life…. If [[Béla Károlyi|Béla]] hadn't defected, I would still have been watched, but his defection brought a spotlight on my life, and it was blinding. I started to feel like a prisoner.<ref name="p121"/></blockquote>

==Personal life==
[[File:P093009CK-0293 (3969427553).jpg |thumb|Comăneci and her husband [[Bart Conner]] meeting First Lady [[Michelle Obama]], 2009]]
On the night of November 27, 1989, a few weeks before the [[Romanian revolution]], Comăneci defected with a group of other Romanians, crossing the [[Hungary–Romania border]] around [[Cenad]]. They were guided by Constantin Panait, a Romanian who later became an American citizen after defecting. Their journey was mostly on foot and at night. They traveled through [[Hungary]] and [[Austria]] and finally were able to take a plane to the United States.<ref name=Fischer/><ref name="InterGym" /><ref>Comăneci, pp. 137–148.</ref><ref name=fugit>{{cite news |url=https://www.gsp.ro/sporturi/gimnastica/cum-a-fugit-nadia-comaneci-din-romania-628949.html |title=Cum a fugit Nadia Comăneci din România |access-date=May 14, 2021 |date=April 12, 2021 |newspaper=Gazeta Sporturilor}}</ref>

Comăneci moved to Oklahoma in 1991 to help her friend [[Bart Conner]], another Olympic gold medalist, with his gymnastics school. She lived with the family of [[Paul Ziert]] and eventually hired him as her manager.<ref>Comăneci, pp. 160–162.</ref> Comăneci and Conner were together for four years before they became engaged, marrying in 1996.<ref>Comăneci, pp. 162–164.</ref> She returned to [[Romania]] for their wedding, which was held in [[Bucharest]]. This was after the fall of the [[Communist Romania|Communist regime]] and the establishment of a democratic Romania; the government welcomed her as a national hero. The wedding was televised live in Romania, and the couple's reception was held in the former presidential palace.<ref name="InterGym" /><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121020031214/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-72893201.html "Nadia Tumbles over Wedding"] ''Cincinnati Post,'' April 6, 1996.</ref> Comăneci became a naturalized US citizen in 2001 while retaining her Romanian citizenship.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 14, 2016 |title=Nadia Comaneci on Winning Carnegie's Great Immigrant Award |url=http://www.oprah.com/wherearetheynow/nadia-comaneci-on-winning-carnegies-great-immigrant-award-video |access-date=March 20, 2018 |website=Oprah.com}}</ref> In 2006, the couple's son Dylan was born.<ref>[http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1201186,00.html "Nadia Comăneci, Bart Conner Have a Boy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921035444/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1201186,00.html|date=September 21, 2016}}, ''People,'' June 6, 2006.</ref><ref>[http://jurnalul.ro/vechiul-site/old-site/english-version/former-gymnasts-nadia-comaneci-and-bart-conner-baptized-their-first-child-dylan-paul-13602.html "Former Gymnasts Nadia Comăneci and Bart Conner Baptized Their First Child, Dylan Paul"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726194240/http://jurnalul.ro/vechiul-site/old-site/english-version/former-gymnasts-nadia-comaneci-and-bart-conner-baptized-their-first-child-dylan-paul-13602.html|date=July 26, 2014}}, Catalina Iancu, ''Jurnalul National,'' August 28, 2006.</ref>

On May 18, 1997, Comăneci and Conner guest-starred on the [[Touched by an Angel season 3|season 3]] finale of ''[[Touched by an Angel]]'', titled "A Delicate Balance," where they performed a brief floor exercise within a montage scene.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/touched_by_an_angel/s03/e28 |title=Touched by an Angel: Season 3 Episode 28 |work=Rotten Tomatoes}}</ref>

Since 1994, the Nadia Comăneci International Invitational has welcomed gymnasts ranging from USAG level 4 to level 10. The competition also hosted international elite competition in the mid-2010s, with [[Rebeca Andrade]] being a notable attendee in 2013 among others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bartconnergymnastics.com/index.php?hosted-meets|title=Hosted Meets &#124; Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy|website=www.bartconnergymnastics.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 17, 2013 |title=2013 Nadia Comaneci Invitational Results |url=https://thegymter.net/2013/02/16/2013-nadia-comaneci-invitational-results/}}</ref>

She was the featured speaker at the 50th annual Independence Day Naturalization Ceremony on July 4, 2012, at [[Monticello]], the first athlete invited to speak in the history of the ceremony.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.monticello.org/site/press/olympic-champion-nadia-com%C4%83neci-be-featured-july-4-speaker-monticello |title=Olympic champion Nadia Comăneci to be featured July 4 speaker at Monticello |date=May 11, 2012 |publisher=monticello.org |access-date=April 21, 2013 |archive-date=September 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918015351/https://www.monticello.org/site/press/olympic-champion-nadia-com%C4%83neci-be-featured-july-4-speaker-monticello |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Leadership roles==
[[File:Nadia Comăneci at the 2012 BRD Năstase Țiriac Trophy.jpg|thumb|upright|Comăneci at the [[Romanian Open|BRD Năstase Țiriac Trophy]], April 2012]]

Comăneci is a well-known figure in the world of gymnastics; she serves as the honorary president of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation, the honorary president of the Romanian Olympic Committee, the sports ambassador of Romania, and as a member of the International Gymnastics Federation Foundation. She and Conner own the Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy, the Perfect&nbsp;10 Production Company, and several sports equipment shops, and are the editors of ''[[International Gymnast Magazine]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nadia Comaneci: A pioneer in perfection |website=Olympics.com |date=August 15, 2020 |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/nadia-comaneci-a-pioneer-in-perfection |access-date=August 14, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Rendell |first=Matt |title=The perfect ten |website=the Guardian |date=July 4, 2004 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2004/jul/04/athensolympics2004.gymnastics |access-date=August 14, 2024}}</ref>

She is also still involved with the Olympic Games. During the [[2004 Summer Olympics]] in [[Athens]], one of her perfect-10 Montreal uneven bars routines was featured in a commercial for [[Adidas]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/2004-ATHENS-GAMES-ADVERTISING-Sporting-a-2702410.php#photo-2167818 |title=2004 Athens Games: Advertising |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle|SFGate]] |date=August 12, 2004 |access-date=April 21, 2013}}</ref> In addition, both Comăneci and her husband [[Bart Conner]] provided television commentary for the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in [[Beijing]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/espnmag/story?id=3540036 |title=The First Family of Gymnastics |access-date=August 21, 2008 |last=Roenigk |first=Alyssa |work=ESPN The Magazine |date=August 17, 2008}}</ref> A few years later, on July 21, 2012, Comăneci, along with former basketball star [[John Amaechi]], carried the Olympic torch to the roof of the [[The O2 Arena (London)|O2&nbsp;Arena]] as part of the torch relay for the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] in [[London]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/torch-relay/9416821/London-2012-Olympics-The-torch-begins-its-journey-across-London.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/torch-relay/9416821/London-2012-Olympics-The-torch-begins-its-journey-across-London.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=London 2012 Olympics: The torch begins its journey across London |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=July 21, 2012 |access-date=March 15, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Prior to the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] in [[Rio de Janeiro]], Comăneci appeared in a TIDE advertisement called "The Evolution of Power" with [[Simone Biles]] and three-time Olympic gymnast [[Dominique Dawes]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/gymnasts-dominique-dawes-nadia-comaneci-reflect-on-olympics-w211715/ |title=Dominique Dawes Predicts How Many Golds for Simone Biles? |date=June 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/olympic-gymnasts-simone-b_b_10972486 |title=Olympic Gymnasts Simone Biles, Dominique Dawes, And Nadia Comaneci Partner In 'The Evolution of Power' Video |date=July 14, 2016 |website=HuffPost}}</ref> She also offered daily analysis of the 2016 games (along with other Olympic champions such as [[Mark Spitz]], [[Carl Lewis]], and Conner), for the late-night show ''É Campeão,'' broadcast on Brazil's [[SporTV]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2016/09/02/rio-2016-globosats-sportv-captivates-olympic-fans-in-brazil/ |title=Rio 2016: Globosat's SporTV Captivates Olympic Fans in Brazil |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Sports Video Group |date=September 2, 2016}}</ref> On July 26, 2024, she participated in the [[2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony|opening ceremony]] of the [[2024 Summer Olympics]] in [[Paris]], alongside past Olympians Carl Lewis, [[Serena Williams]], and [[Rafael Nadal]], carrying the [[Olympic flame]] in the final stages of the [[2024 Summer Olympics torch relay|torch relay]] up the river [[Seine]] to the [[Louvre]] museum on its way to the [[Olympic flame#Olympic cauldron lighting|lighting of the Olympic cauldron]] in the [[Tuileries Garden]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 26, 2024 |title=Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams Help Light Cauldron to Open Paris Olympics |url=https://www.si.com/olympics/rafael-nadal-serena-williams-help-light-cauldron-paris-olympics |access-date=July 27, 2024 |website=SI |language=en-US}}</ref>

In addition, Comăneci is highly involved in fundraising for a number of charities. She personally funded the construction and operation of the Nadia Comăneci Children's Clinic in Bucharest that provides low-cost and free medical and social support to Romanian children.<ref name="Still A Perfect 10" /> In 2003, the Romanian government appointed her as an honorary consul general of Romania to the United States to deal with bilateral [[Romania–United States relations|relations between the two nations]].<ref name="consul">[http://mpnewyork.mae.ro/en/node/697 Honorary Consulates of Romania in the US] Retrieved July 31, 2012.</ref> In addition, both Comăneci and Conner are involved with the [[Special Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.specialolympics.org/Sections/Who_We_Are/Supporters/Nadia_Comaneci.aspx |title=Nadia Comaneci, Global Ambassador |access-date=October 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209042443/http://www.specialolympics.org/Sections/Who_We_Are/Supporters/Nadia_Comaneci.aspx |archive-date=December 9, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.specialolympics.org/News_and_Stories/Stories2014/Special_Olympics_Heroes_Bart_Conner_and_Nadia_Comaneci.aspx |title=On Mats, Bars and Boards, Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci Lead by Example |access-date=October 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911025127/http://www.specialolympics.org/News_and_Stories/Stories2014/Special_Olympics_Heroes_Bart_Conner_and_Nadia_Comaneci.aspx |archive-date=September 11, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

To raise money for charity, Comăneci participated in the [[The Apprentice (U.S. season 7)|celebrity version]] of [[Donald Trump]]'s [[Reality television|reality show]] ''[[The Apprentice (American TV series)|The Apprentice]]''. Comăneci was a member of "The Empresario" team (all women), which lost to "The Hydra" team (all men) in the second episode. Trump responded to this loss by firing Comăneci,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://people.com/tv/celebrity-apprentice-ivanka-trump-vs-gene-simmons/ |title=Celebrity Apprentice: Ivanka Trump vs. Gene&nbsp;Simmons |website=People}}</ref> Comăneci later commented on her participation in the show, saying she "had great fun. I only did it because it was all for charity."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2008/01/09/nadia-travels-from-10-to-trump/ |title=Nadia travels from "10" to Trump |date=January 10, 2008}}</ref>

==Honors and awards==
[[File:ROM 1976 MiNr3378 mt B002.jpg|thumb|upright|Comăneci in Montreal. Stamp of Romania, 1976]]
* 1975 and 1976: The [[United Press International Athlete of the Year Award#Female winners|United Press International Athlete of the Year Award]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://olympics.com/athlete365/yournetwork/entourage/nadia-comaneci-a365 |title=Nadia Comaneci |website=olympics.com |access-date=December 3, 2024}}</ref>
* 1976: [[Hero of Socialist Labour]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/11/29/Comaneci-darling-of-76-Olympics-defects/6829628318800/ |title=Comaneci, darling of '76 Olympics, defects |last=Laszlo |first=Erika |date=November 29, 1989 |work=[[United Press International]] |access-date=July 16, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
* 1976: [[Associated Press Athlete of the Year]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/simone-biles-ap-female-athlete-of-the-year/ |title=Simone Biles chosen as AP's Female Athlete of the Year |date=December 26, 2016 |work=[[CBS News]] |access-date=July 16, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
* 1976: [[BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year]]<ref name="Dodd"/>
* 1983: The Olympic Order<ref>{{citation |chapter-url=http://www.la84.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1984/ore197/ORE197s.pdf |title=Olympic Review '84 |chapter=Olympic Awards presented at the 87th IOC Session |publisher=International Olympic Committee |via=LA84 Foundation |access-date=May 15, 2015}}</ref>
* 1990: [[International Women's Sports Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/programs/awards/international-womens-sports-hall-fame/ |title=International Women's Sports Hall of Fame |publisher=Women's Sports Foundation |access-date=July 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305183054/https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/programs/awards/international-womens-sports-hall-fame/ |archive-date=March 5, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 1993: [[International Gymnastics Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ighof.com/master.php |title=Inductees |publisher=International Gymnastics Hall of Fame |access-date=July 16, 2018}}</ref>
* 1998: [[Marca Leyenda]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marca.com/marca-leyenda.html |title=MARCA Leyenda |website=[[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]] |access-date=July 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717072614/http://www.marca.com/marca-leyenda.html |archive-date=July 17, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 1998: [[Flo Hyman Award]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/25900976.html?dids=25900976:25900976&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+06%2C+1998&author=Elissa+Leibowitz&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Comaneci+Vaults+Back+Into+the+Spotlight%3B+Olympic+Gymnast+Receives+Women%27s+Sports+Foundation+Award&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720141418/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/25900976.html?dids=25900976:25900976&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+06,+1998&author=Elissa+Leibowitz&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Comaneci+Vaults+Back+Into+the+Spotlight;+Olympic+Gymnast+Receives+Women's+Sports+Foundation+Award&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 20, 2012 |title=Comaneci Vaults Back Into the Spotlight; Olympic Gymnast Receives Women's Sports Foundation Award |last=Leibowitz |first=Elissa |date=February 6, 1998 |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=C2 |access-date=March 9, 2011}}{{subscription required}}</ref>
* 2004: The [[Olympic Order]]<ref>{{cite news |title=A new trophy for Nadia Comaneci |url=http://www.olympic.org/news?articleid=55404 |publisher=[[International Olympic Committee]] |date=March 29, 2004 |access-date=December 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402103514/http://www.olympic.org/news?articleid=55404 |archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
* 2016: Great Immigrant Honoree: [[Carnegie Corporation of New York]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.carnegie.org/news/articles/2016-great-immigrants-pride-america/|title=2016 Great Immigrants Honorees: The Pride of America  &#124; Carnegie Corporation of New York|website=Carnegie Corporation of New York}}</ref>
* 2017: She was recognized as one of the [[100 Women (BBC)|BBC's 100 Women]] of 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 27, 2017 |title=BBC 100 Women 2017: Who is on the list? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-41380265 |access-date=December 17, 2022}}</ref>
* 2017: an area in the [[Olympic Park, Montreal|Olympic Park]] in Montreal was renamed "Place Nadia Comaneci".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amadon |first=Brett |date=October 4, 2017 |title=Nadia Comaneci honored with public space next to Montreal's Olympic Stadium |url=http://www.excellesports.com/news/nadia-comaneci-public-space-montreal/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017202406/http://www.excellesports.com/news/nadia-comaneci-public-space-montreal/ |archive-date=October 17, 2017 |access-date=October 12, 2017 |work=Excelle Sports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2017 |title=Montreal Olympic Park unveils plaza honouring gymnast Nadia Comaneci |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/montreal-olympic-park-unveils-plaza-honouring-gymnast-nadia-comaneci |access-date=October 12, 2017 |work=[[Montreal Gazette]]}}</ref>
* 2021: [[Order of the Star of Romania]], Grand Officer<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.romania-insider.com/nadia-comaneci-decorated-iohannis |title=Romanian president decorates legendary gymnast Nadia Comaneci |newspaper=Romania Insider |date=November 12, 2021 |access-date=September 1, 2022}}{{title missing|date=September 2022}}</ref>

== Skills ==

{{quote box|width=22%|align=right|quote="With her trademark verve, graceful delivery and unflickering precision, the 14-year-old from Romania set the bar to which future generations of gymnasts would aspire."|source=–''Lost art: Powerhouse physiques winning out over spellbinding grace'', ''[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]'', 2015<ref name="Artisty"/>}}
Comăneci was known for her clean technique, innovative and difficult original skills, and her stoic, cool demeanor in competition.<ref name=si /><ref name=leap>[https://www.si.com/vault/1976/04/12/616332/a-great-leap-backward "A Great Leap Backward"] Anita Verschoth, ''Sports Illustrated,'' April 12, 1976.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111011161647/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,914450-3,00.html "The Games: Up in the Air"] ''Time'', August 2, 1976.</ref> On the balance beam, she was the first gymnast to successfully perform an aerial cartwheel-back [[Handspring (gymnastics)|handspring]] series. She is also credited as being the first gymnast to perform a double-twist [[dismount]].<ref name=si /><ref name=leap /> Her skills on the floor exercise included a tucked double back [[Somersault|salto]] and a double twist.<ref name=leap />

Comăneci has two eponymous uneven bars skills listed in the [[Code of Points (gymnastics)|Code of Points]], the [[Comăneci salto]] and the Comăneci dismount.<ref>{{cite web |title=Women’s Artistic Gymnastics – 2025-2028 Code of Points |url=https://www.gymnastics.sport/publicdir/rules/files/en_1.1%20-%20WAG%20COP%202025-2028.pdf |website=[[International Gymnastics Federation]] |date=22 April 2024 |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Apparatus
!Name
!Description
![[Code of Points (gymnastics)#Table of elements|Difficulty]]{{efn|name=difficulty|Valid for the 2025–2028 Code of Points}}
|-
|Uneven bars || [[Comăneci salto|Comăneci]] || Front support on high bar – cast with salto forward straddled to hang on high bar || E (0.5)
|-
|Uneven bars || Comăneci || Underswing with ½ turn (180°) to salto backward tucked or piked || C (0.3)
|}

==Competitive history==
[[File:Nadia Comăneci 1976.jpg|thumb|upright|Comăneci wearing her medals in 1976]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%;"
|-
! align=center|Year
! align=center|Event
! style="width:30px;"|Team
! style="width:30px;"|AA
! style="width:30px;"|[[Gymnastics vault|VT]]
! style="width:30px;"|[[Gymnastics uneven bars|UB]]
! style="width:30px;"|[[Gymnastics balance beam|BB]]
! style="width:30px;"|[[Gymnastics floor|FX]]
|-
! colspan="19" | '''Junior'''
|-
| rowspan="3" | '''1971''' || align=left | Novice Romanian Championships ||{{gold1}} ||4 || || || ||
|- 
| align=left | Romanian Cup || ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}}
|-
| align=left | Junior ROM-YUG Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| rowspan="8" | '''1972''' || align=left | Novice Romanian Championships||{{gold1}} ||{{silver2}} || || || ||
|- 
| align=left | Junior Romanian Championships ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| align=left | Romanian Cup ||{{gold1}} || || || || ||
|-
| align=left | BUL-ROM Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{silver2}} || ||{{gold1}} || ||{{gold1}}
|-
| align=left | Friendship Tournament ||4 || ||6 ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||
|-
| align=left | ROM-GDR Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{bronze3}} || || || ||
|-
| align=left | ROM-RSFSR Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| align=left | ROM-HUN Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| rowspan="6" | '''1973''' || align=left | International Championships of Romania || ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}}
|- 
| align=left | Friendship Tournament ||{{bronze3}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || ||{{bronze3}}
|-
| align=left | ITA-ROM Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| align=left | ROM-URS Dual Meet ||{{silver2}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || ||{{gold1}}
|-
| align=left | Romanian Team Championships ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| align=left | Romanian Schools Championships || ||{{bronze3}} || || || ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | '''1974''' || align=left | Junior Romanian Championships || ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|- 
| align=left | ROM-POL-Denver Tri-Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
! colspan="40" | '''Senior'''
|-
| rowspan="7" | '''1975''' || align=left | Champions All || ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|- bgcolor=#F5F6CE
| align=left | [[1975 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships|European Championships]] || ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{silver2}}
|-
| align=left | FRG-ROM Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| align=left | Pre-Olympics || ||{{gold1}} ||{{silver2}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{bronze3}} ||{{silver2}}
|-
| align=left | Romanian Championships ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{silver2}}
|-
| align=left | ROM-CAN Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| align=left | ROM-ITA Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| rowspan="10" | '''1976''' || align=left | [[American Cup (gymnastics)|American Cup]] || ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|- 
| align=left | Balkan Championships ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || {{gold1}}||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}}
|-
| align=left | CAN-ROM Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| align=left | Chunichi Cup || ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| align=left | FRG-ROM Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| align=left | GBR-ROM Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| align=left | NED-ROM Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-bgcolor=98FB98
| align=left | '''[[Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]''' ||{{silver2}} ||{{gold1}} ||4 ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{bronze3}}
|-
| align=left | Romanian Championships || ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{silver2}}
|-
| align=left | USA-ROM Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| rowspan="9" | '''1977''' || align=left | Balkan Championships ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|- 
| align=left | ESP-ROM Dual Meet I ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| align=left | ESP-ROM Dual Meet II ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-bgcolor=#F5F6CE
| align=left | [[1977 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships|European Championships]] || ||{{gold1}} ||{{silver2}} ||{{gold1}} || ||
|-
| align=left | FRA-ROM Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| align=left | International Championships of Romania || ||{{gold1}} || ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}}
|-
| align=left | Orleans International || ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| align=left | ROM-CAN Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| align=left | USA-ROM Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-
| rowspan="3" | '''1978''' || align=left | ITA-ROM Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|- 
| align=left | Milan International || ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-bgcolor=#CCCCFF
| align=left | [[1978 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|World Championships]] ||{{silver2}} || ||{{silver2}} ||5 ||{{gold1}} ||8
|-
| rowspan="6" | '''1979''' || align=left | Balkan Championships ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || ||{{silver2}}
|- 
| align=left | Champions All || ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-bgcolor=#F5F6CE
| align=left | [[1979 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships|European Championships]] || ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||4 ||{{bronze3}} ||{{gold1}}
|-
| align=left | International Championships of Romania || ||{{gold1}} || ||{{gold1}} || ||
|-bgcolor=#CCCCFF
| align=left | [[1979 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|World Championships]] ||{{gold1}} || || || || ||
|-
| align=left | [[1979 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup|World Cup Final]] || ||4 ||{{gold1}} || ||{{silver2}} ||{{gold1}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | '''1980''' || align=left | International Championships of Romania || ||{{gold1}} || ||{{gold1}} || ||
|- 
| align=left | ITA-ROM Dual Meet ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|-bgcolor=98FB98
| align=left | '''[[Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]''' ||{{silver2}} ||{{silver2}} ||5 || ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | '''1981''' || align=left | Daciada || ||{{gold1}} || || || ||
|- 
| align=left | [[Gymnastics at the 1981 Summer Universiade|Summer Universiade]] ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||{{gold1}} ||
|}
<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gymn-forum.net/bios/women/comaneci.html |website=Gymn Forum |access-date=April 10, 2024 |title=Nadia Comaneci Biography}}</ref>

==Book and films==
* Comăneci's 2004 memoir, ''Letters to a Young Gymnast'', is part of the ''[[Art of Mentoring]]'' series by Basic Books.<ref>[[#Comaneci|Comăneci]]</ref><ref>[http://www.basicbooks.com/full-details?isbn=9780465025053 Letters to a Young Gymnast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923125709/http://www.basicbooks.com/full-details?isbn=9780465025053 |date=September 23, 2016 }}. basicbooks.com</ref>
* [[Katie Holmes]] directed a short 2015 documentary for [[ESPN]] about Comăneci entitled ''Eternal Princess'' that premiered at the [[Tribeca Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.uxentertainment.com/brandedent-4/ |title=''Eternal Princess'' |access-date=August 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916035820/http://www.uxentertainment.com/brandedent-4/ |archive-date=September 16, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://espnmediazone.com/us/weekly-updates/espn-thisweek-may-24-2016/#h |title=Short Film Eternal Princess, Directed by Katie Holmes, Debuts on espnW |access-date=August 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910233546/http://espnmediazone.com/us/weekly-updates/espn-thisweek-may-24-2016/#h |archive-date=September 10, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* In 2016, [[Arte]] France produced a Pola Rapaport documentary about Comăneci entitled ''Nadia Comăneci, la gymnaste et le dictateur'' ("Nadia Comăneci: The Gymnast and the Dictator").<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boutique.arte.tv/detail/nadia_comaneci_gymnaste_et_dictateur |title=Nadia Comăneci, la gymnaste et le dictateur |language=fr |website=boutique.arte.tv |publisher=ARTE Boutique}}</ref>
* In 1984, Comăneci was the subject of a biopic television film, ''[[Nadia (film)|Nadia]]''.<ref name=unauth>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/29/sports/nadia-comaneci-still-glows-as-images-of-1976-recede.html?pagewanted=all |title=Nadia Comăneci Still Glows as Images of 1976 Recede |access-date=September 4, 2016 |last=Lindsey |first=Robert |date=July 29, 1984 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The film was developed without her involvement (although the content was described to her by others). She later stated publicly that the producers never made contact with her: "I sincerely don't even want to see it; I feel so badly about it. It distorts my life so totally."<ref name=unauth/>
* In 2012, [[Universal Pictures]] chose Comăneci to dub Granny Norma in Romanian in the animated movie ''[[The Lorax (film)|The Lorax]]''.<ref>Gloria Sauciuc- Cinemagia – 20 ani de magie de la primul film dublat în limba română</ref>
* In 2021, Stejărel Olaru published in Romanian a biographical volume, ''Nadia și Securitatea'' ("Nadia and the Securitate"), at Epica Publishing House.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2021/05/14/book-reveals-nadia-comanecis-ordeal-in-ceausescus-romania/ |title=''Book Reveals Nadia Comăneci's Ordeal in Ceaușescu's Romania'' |date=May 14, 2021 |access-date=January 9, 2022 |isbn=9786069519707 |last1=Olaru |first1=Stejărel |publisher=Epica Fiction & History}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* [[List of multiple Olympic gold medalists]]
* [[List of Olympic female gymnasts for Romania]]
* [[List of Olympic medal leaders in women's gymnastics]]
* [[List of multiple Olympic medalists at a single Games]]
* [[List of multiple Summer Olympic medalists]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Cited sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |ref=Comaneci |last=Comăneci |first=Nadia |year=2004 |title=Letters to a Young Gymnast |url=https://archive.org/details/letterstoyounggy00coma |url-access=registration |series=The [[Art of Mentoring]] |publisher=[[Basic Books]] |isbn=0-465-01276-0}}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite book |last=Olaru |first=Stejarel |title=Nadia Comaneci and the Secret Police: A Cold War Escape |publisher=Bloomsbury |year=2023 |isbn=978-1350321298}} [https://issforum.org/essays/PDF/E568.pdf  online scholarly book review]
*{{cite book |last=Comaneci |first=Nadia |title=Letters to a Young Gymnast |edition=reprint |year=2011 |publisher=Basic Books |isbn=978-0-4650-2505-3}}
*{{cite book |last=Miklowitz |first=Gloria D. |author-link1=Gloria D. Miklowitz |title=Nadia Comaneci |year=1977 |publisher=Grosset & Dunlap |isbn=978-0-4481-2973-0}}
*{{cite book |last=Temple |first=Cliff |author-link1=Cliff Temple |title=The Enchanting Story of Little Miss Perfect |year=1977 |publisher=Everest Books |isbn=978-0-9050-1878-2}}
*{{cite book |last=Comaneci |first=Nadia |title=Nadia: The Autobiography of Nadia Comaneci |year=1981 |publisher=Proteus Books |isbn=978-0-9060-7178-6}}
*{{cite book |last=Woolum |first=Janet |title=Outstanding Women Athletes: Who They Are and How They Influenced Sports In America |edition=2nd |year=1998 |publisher=Greenwood |isbn=978-1-5735-6120-4}}
*{{cite book |last=Weiniger |first=Peter |title=Sporting Heroes |year=2001 |publisher=Thomson Learning |isbn=978-1-8696-1476-8}}
*{{cite book |last=Meyers |first=Dvora |title=The End of the Perfect 10: The Making and Breaking of Gymnastics' Top Score – from Nadia to Now |year=2016 |publisher=Atria Books |isbn=978-1-5011-0136-6}}
*{{cite book |last=Dimitriu |first=Dumitru |title=Nadia Comăneci și echipa de aur |year=1976 |publisher=Sport-Turism |ol=4679678M}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Nadia Comăneci}}
* {{Official website|bartandnadia.com}}
* {{FIG}}
* {{IGHOF}}
* {{Olympics.com}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{COSR|new_id=comaneci-nadia|old_id=nadia-comaneci}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* [http://www.voicesofoklahoma.com/interview/conner-bart/ Voices of Oklahoma interview with Bart Conner] – First person interview conducted on February 28, 2013, with Bart Conner, husband of Nadia Comăneci.

'''Video clips''':
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML5m2JLK8AE Nadia Comăneci makes history at the Montreal 1976 Olympics] – [[International Olympic Committee|The Olympic Channel]], 2010
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBrwQ7-I6t8&index=1&list=PL-292yfpAFGb1O0AOwaNSJ_D7KXLzATaz Nadia Comăneci – First Olympics Perfect 10 (Uneven Bars) – Montreal 1976 Olympics] – [[International Olympic Committee|The Olympic Channel]], 2015
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi_5xbd5xdE Nadia Comăneci – Selections from all of her routines – Montreal 1976 Olympics (overview)] – [[International Olympic Committee|The Olympic Channel]], 2012
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mts306F19fU The Adorable Way This Olympic Couple First Met | Where Are They Now | Oprah Winfrey Network] – [[Oprah Winfrey Network (U.S. TV channel)]], 2016
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRMpT5XsubM Nadia Comaneci & Bart Conner Commentate on Their Perfect Olympic Routines | Take the Mic] – [[International Olympic Committee|The Olympic Channel]], 2016
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1Jpb6Qukkg Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner, 11 Olympic Medals in this Olympic Family] – [[International Olympic Committee|The Olympic Channel]], 2016

{{S-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Irena Szewińska]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United Press International Athlete of the Year Award#Female winners|United Press International<br />Athlete of the Year]]|years=1975, 1976}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Rosemarie Ackermann]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Arthur Ashe]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year]]|years=1976}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Niki Lauda]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Billie Jean King]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Flo Hyman Memorial Award]]|years=1998}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Bonnie Blair]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Nadia Comăneci}}
{{Navboxes
|title = International championships for Nadia Comăneci
|list =
{{Footer Olympic Champions – Artistic Gymnastics – Individual All-Around – Women}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions – Artistic Gymnastics – Women's Balance Beam}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions – Artistic Gymnastics – Women's Floor Exercise}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions – Artistic Gymnastics – Women's Uneven Bars}}
{{NavigationWorldChampionsArtisticGymnasticsWomenTC|1979}}
{{NavigationWorldChampionsArtisticGymnasticsWomenBalanceBeam}}
{{Footer European Artistic Gymnastics All-Around Champions (Women)}}
{{Footer European Artistic Gymnastics Vault Champions (Women)}}
{{Footer European Artistic Gymnastics Uneven Bars Champions (Women)}}
{{Footer European Artistic Gymnastics Balance Beam Champions (Women)}}
{{Footer European Artistic Gymnastics Floor Exercise Champions (Women)}}
}}
{{Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year navbox}}
{{BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year}}
{{PAP European Sportsperson of the Year}}
{{BTA Best Balkan Athlete of the Year}}
{{International Gymnastics Hall of Fame members}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Comaneci, Nadia}}
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