Nadia Comăneci
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{{Infobox Gymnast
|gymnastname= Nadia Comăneci
|image= Comaneci05.jpg
|imagesize=
|caption= (r-l) Comăneci with [[Condoleezza Rice]]
|fullname= Nadia Elena Comaneci
|nickname=
|country= {{ROU}}
|formercountry=
|birthdate= {{birth date and age|1961|11|12}}
|birthplace= [[Oneşti|Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej]]
|hometown=
|height=
|discipline= Women's artistic gymnastics
|level= Senior international
|natlteam=
|club=
|gym=National Training Center
|collegeteam=
|headcoach=
|assistcoach=
|formercoach= [[Béla Károlyi]]; [[Marta Károlyi]]
|choreographer=Geza Pozar
|music=
|eponymousskills=Comaneci salto (uneven bars)
|retired= 1981
|medaltemplates= <!-- see [[Template:MedalRelatedTemplates]] -->
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|1976 Montréal|All-around}}
{{MedalGold|1976 Montréal|Uneven bars}}
{{MedalGold|1976 Montréal|Balance beam}}
{{MedalGold|1980 Moscow|Balance beam}}
{{MedalGold|1980 Moscow|Floor exercise}}
{{MedalSilver|1976 Montréal|Team competition}}
{{MedalSilver|1980 Moscow|Team competition}}
{{MedalSilver|1980 Moscow|All-around}}
{{MedalBronze|1976 Montréal|Floor exercise}}
{{MedalWorldChampionships}}
{{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}}
{{MedalEuropeanChampionships}}
{{MedalGold|1975 Skien|All around}}
{{MedalGold|1975 Skien|Uneven Bars}}
{{MedalGold|1975 Skien|Balance Beam}}
{{MedalGold|1975 Skien|Vault}}
{{MedalGold|1977 Prague|All around}}
{{MedalGold|1977 Prague|Uneven Bars}}
{{MedalGold|1979 Copenhagen|All around}}
{{MedalGold|1979 Copenhagen|Vault}}
{{MedalGold|1979 Copenhagen|Floor Exercise}}
{{MedalSilver|1975 Skien|Floor Exercise}}
{{MedalBronze|1977 Prague|Vault}}
{{MedalBronze|1979 Copenhagen|Balance Beam}}
}}
'''Nadia Elena Comaneci''' (originally '''Comăneci''' {{IPA|/ko.mə'neʧʲ/}}; born [[November 12]], [[1961]]) is a [[Romania]]n [[gymnastics|gymnast]], winner of five [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] gold medals, and the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10 in an Olympic gymnastic event. She is one of the best-known gymnasts in the world and, along with [[Olga Korbut]], is credited with popularizing the sport around the world.<ref name="infoplease">{{Cite web|url=http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/society/A0822234.html|title=Gymnastics|accessmonthday=September 6|accessyear=2007|publisher=infoplease.com|year=2007|author=The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed.|language=English}}</ref><ref name="boa">{{Cite web|url=http://www.olympics.org.uk/sporthistory.aspx?gt=S&sp=GA Gymnastics history|title=British Olympic Association|accessmonthday=September 6|accessyear=2007|publisher=British Olympic Association|year=2007|author=British Olympic Association|language=English}}</ref><ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/gymnastics/story/2008/05/14/f-olympics-womengymnastics-history.html "Munchkin leads European charge of gymnastics"] CBC sports, June 3, 2008</ref>
== Early life ==
Comaneci was born in Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej (now [[Oneşti]]), [[Romania]], as the daughter of Gheorghe and Ştefania-Alexandrina.<ref name=youngathlete>[http://www.gymn-forum.net/Articles/Misc-Comaneci_YA.html "Olympic Champion Nadia Comaneci''] ''Young Athlete,'' August 1978</ref><ref>''Letters to a Young Gymnast''. Comaneci, Nadia. 2004, Basic Books. ISBN 0465012760 pg. 4</ref> Her pregnant mother was watching a Russian film in which the heroine of the story's name was Nadya, the shortened version of the Russian name ''Nadyezhda'' (which means, literally, "Hope"). She decided that her daughter would be named Nadia, too. Comaneci also has a younger brother named Adrian.<ref>''Letters to a Young Gymnast''. Comaneci, Nadia. 2004, Basic Books. ISBN 0465012760 pg. 5</ref>
==Early gymnastics career==
Comaneci began gymnastics in kindergarten with a local team called "Flame," with coaches Duncan and Munteanu.<ref name=Fischer>[http://www.gymnpics.com/gymnasticgreats/wag/comaneci.htm Whatever Happened to Nadia Comaneci?] Barbara Fisher and Jennifer Isbister, 2003, Gymnastics Greats.com</ref><ref>''Letters to a Young Gymnast''. Comaneci, Nadia. 2004, Basic Books. ISBN 0465012760 pg. </ref> At age 6 she was chosen to attend [[Béla Károlyi]]'s experimental gymnastics school after he spotted her and a friend turning cartwheels in a schoolyard.<ref>[http://www.gymn-forum.com/Articles/Misc-Comaneci_YA.html "Olympic Champion Nadia Comaneci''] ''Young Athlete,'' August 1978</ref><ref>''Letters to a Young Gymnast''. Comaneci, Nadia. 2004, Basic Books. ISBN 0465012760 pg. 17-19</ref><ref name=si>[http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1091387/2/index.htm "Nadia Awed Ya''] Frank Deford, ''Sports Illustrated,'' August 2 1976</ref>
Comaneci was training with the Károlyis by the time she was 7 years old, in 1969. She was one of the first students at the gymnastics school established in Onesti by Béla and his wife, Marta, who would later defect to the [[United States]] and become coaches of many prominent American gymnasts. Unlike many of the other students at the Károlyi school, Comaneci was able to commute from home for many years because she lived in the area.<ref>''Letters to a Young Gymnast''. Comaneci, Nadia. 2004, Basic Books. ISBN 0465012760 pg. 19</ref>
Comaneci placed 13th in her first Romanian National Championships in 1969. A year later, in 1970, she began competing as a member of her hometown team and became the youngest gymnast ever to win the Romanian Nationals.<ref name=youngathlete/> In 1971, she participated in her first international competition, a dual junior meet between Romania and Yugoslavia, winning her first all-around title and contributing to the team gold. For the next few years, she competed as a junior in numerous national contests in Romania and additional dual meets with nearby countries such as [[Hungary]], [[Italy]] and [[Poland]].<ref>
[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 and uneven bars titles, at the Junior Friendship Tournament (Druzhba), an important meet for junior gymnasts.<ref>''Letters to a Young Gymnast''. Comaneci, Nadia. 2004, Basic Books. ISBN 0465012760 pg. 27-28</ref><ref>[http://www.gymn-forum.net/bios/women/comaneci.html List of competitive results] Gymn-Forum</ref>
Comaneci's first major international success came at the age of 13, when she nearly swept the 1975 European Championships in [[Skien]], Norway, winning the all-around and gold medals on every event but the [[floor exercise]], in which she placed second. She continued to enjoy success in other meets in 1975, winning the all-around at the "Champions All" competition and placing first in the all-around, vault, beam, and bars at the Romanian National Championships. In the Pre-Olympic test event in [[Montreal]], Comaneci won the all-around and the balance beam golds, as well as silvers in the vault, floor, and bars behind accomplished Soviet gymnast [[Nellie Kim]], who would prove to be one of her greatest rivals over the next five years.<ref>
[http://www.gymn-forum.net/bios/women/comaneci.html List of competitive results] Gymn-Forum</ref>
In March 1976, Comaneci competed in the inaugural edition of the American Cup at [[Madison Square Garden]] in [[New York]]. She received unprecedented scores of 10.0, which signified a perfect routine without any deductions, on [[vault]] in both the preliminary and final rounds of competition and won the all-around.<ref>[http://www.gymn-forum.net/Articles/NYT-1976_AmCup2.html "Gymnast Posts Perfect Mark"] Robin Herman, ''[[New York Times]],'' March 28, 1976</ref> Comaneci also received 10s in other meets in 1976, including the prestigious Chunichi Cup competition in [[Japan]], where she posted perfect marks on the vault and [[uneven bars]].<ref>[http://www.gymn-forum.net/results/CCup/Women/1976.html Scores for 1976 Chunichi Cup] Gymn-Forum</ref>
The international community took note of Comaneci: she was named the [[United Press International]]'s "Female Athlete of the Year" for 1975.<ref>[http://www.hickoksports.com/history/upiaoy.shtml UPI Athletes of the Year]</ref>
==Montreal Olympics==
At the age of 14, Comaneci became one of the stars of the [[1976 Summer Olympics]] in [[Montreal]]. During the team portion of the competition, her routine on the uneven bars was scored at a 10.0. It was the first time in modern Olympic gymnastics history that the score had ever been awarded. The scoreboards were not even equipped to display scores of 10.0—so Nadia's perfect marks were reported on the boards as 1.00 instead.<ref>[http://www.olympic.org/upload/news/olympic_review/review_2005628172259_UK.pdf "Still A Perfect 10"] ''Olympic Review,'' Paul Ziert, 2005</ref> Over the course of the Olympics, Comaneci would earn six additional 10s, en route to capturing the all-around, beam and bars titles and a bronze medal on the floor exercise. The Romanian team also placed second in the team competition.<ref name= "InterGym">[http://www.intlgymnast.com/legends/comaneci.html Legends: Nadia Comaneci] ''International Gymnast'' magazine</ref>
Comaneci was the first Romanian gymnast to win the all-around title at the Olympics. She also holds the record as the youngest Olympic gymnastics all-around champion ever; with the revised age-eligibility requirements in the sport (gymnasts must now turn 16 in the calendar year to compete in the Olympics; in 1976 gymnasts had to be 14 by the first day of the competition<ref>[http://www.aafla.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1980/ore155/ORE155p.pdf "Within the International Federations"] (PDF). ''Olympic Review,'' 1980</ref>), this record is currently unable to be broken.<!--Based on the decisions of the FIG, which has moved the age limits up three times since 1980 and wants to change it to 18, it's very, very unlikely 14 year olds will ever be allowed at the Olympics again, but we'll leave out the "never" for now -->
Comaneci's achievements at the Olympics generated a significant amount of media attention. The theme song from the [[United States|American]] [[soap opera]] ''[[The Young and the Restless]]'' became associated with her after the television program [[Wide World of Sports (US TV series)|ABC's Wide World Of Sports]] used it as background music for montages of her routines. The song became a top ten single in the fall of 1976, and the composer, [[Barry De Vorzon]], renamed it to "[[Nadia's Theme]]" after her.<ref>[http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/profiles/bio_uk.asp?PAR_I_ID=44503 "Nadia Comaneci: The Perfect 10"] International Olympic Committee (IOC) website</ref> However, Comaneci never actually performed to "Nadia's Theme." Her floor exercise music was a medley of the songs "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" and "Jump in the Line" arranged for piano.<ref name=si />
She was the 1976 BBC Sports Personality of the Year in the overseas athletes category<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/keyfacts/stories/spoty_overseas.shtml List of winners, BBC Sports Personality of the Year (Overseas)] BBC press office</ref> and the [[Associated Press]]'s 1976 "Female Athlete of the Year".<ref>[http://encarta.msn.com/media_701500051_761551983_-1_1/Associated_Press_Athletes_of_the_Year.html Associated Press Athletes of the Year] MSN Encarta</ref> She also retained her title as the UPI Female Athlete of the Year.<ref>[http://www.hickoksports.com/history/upiaoy.shtml UPI Athletes of the Year]</ref> Back home in Romania, Comaneci's success led her to be named a "[[Hero of Socialist Labor]]," she was the youngest Romanian to receive such recognition during the administration of [[Nicolae Ceauşescu]].<ref name=Fischer/>
== 1977–1980 ==
Comaneci successfully defended her European all-around title in 1977, but when questions about the scoring were raised, Ceauşescu ordered the Romanian gymnasts to return home. The team followed orders and controversially walked out of the competition during the event finals.<ref>''Letters to a Young Gymnast''. Comaneci, Nadia. 2004, Basic Books. ISBN 0465012760 pg. 61-62</ref><ref name=Fischer/>
Following the 1977 Europeans, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation removed Comaneci from her longtime coaches, the Károlyis, and sent her to [[Bucharest]] to train at the 23 August sports complex. The change was not positive for Comaneci. Grappling with both the stress of her parents' divorce and the new training environment, she was extremely unhappy and her gymnastics and overall fitness suffered.<ref>''Letters to a Young Gymnast''. Comaneci, Nadia. 2004, Basic Books. ISBN 0465012760 pg. 64-68</ref><ref name=Fischer/> An overweight and out of shape Comaneci showed up at the [[1978 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1978 World Championships]]. A fall from the uneven bars resulted in a 4th place finish in the all-around behind [[Elena Mukhina]], Nellie Kim, and [[Natalia Shaposhnikova]], but Comaneci won the beam title.
After the 1978 Worlds, Comaneci was permitted to return to Deva and to the Károlyis.<ref>''Letters to a Young Gymnast''. Comaneci, Nadia. 2004, Basic Books. ISBN 0465012760 pg. 68 - 72</ref> In 1979, a newly slim and motivated Comaneci won her third consecutive European all-around title, becoming the first gymnast, male or female, to achieve the feat. At the [[1979 World Championships in Artistic Gymnastics|World Championships]] that December, Comaneci led the field after the compulsory competition but was hospitalized prior to the optional portion of the team competition for blood poisoning caused by 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, Comaneci spent several days recovering in All Saints Hospital and underwent 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>''Letters to a Young Gymnast''. Comaneci, Nadia. 2004, Basic Books. ISBN 0465012760 pg. 87 - 91 </ref><ref>''Little Girls in Pretty Boxes.'' Ryan, Joan. 1995, Doubleday. ISBN 0385477902</ref>
Comaneci participated in the [[1980 Summer Olympics]] in [[Moscow]], where she placed second, by a small margin, to [[Yelena Davydova ]]. She defended her Olympic title in the balance beam and tied with [[Nellie Kim]] for the gold medal in the floor exercise. The Romanian team finished second overall.
Comaneci retired from competition in 1981. Her official retirement ceremony took place in Bucharest in 1984 and was attended by the [[International Olympic Committee]] Chairman.<ref>[http://www.olympic.org/upload/news/olympic_review/review_2005628172259_UK.pdf "Still A Perfect 10"] ''Olympic Review,'' Paul Ziert, 2005</ref>
== Post retirement ==
In 1981, Comaneci participated in a gymnastics exhibition tour in the United States.<ref>[http://www.gymn-forum.net/Articles/NYT-1981_Comaneci_Tour.html "Miss Comaneci, 19, Makes Fresh Start"]. Ira Berkow, ''New York Times,'' March 6, 1981</ref> During the tour, her coaches, Béla and Marta Károlyi, along with the Romanian team choreographer Geza Pozar, defected.<ref>''Little Girls in Pretty Boxes.'' Ryan, Joan. 1995, Doubleday. ISBN 0385477902 pg. 201</ref> Upon her return to Romania, Comaneci's actions were strictly monitored. She was granted leave to attend the 1984 Olympics in [[Los Angeles]] but was supervised for the entire trip. Aside from that journey, and a few select trips to Moscow and Cuba, Comaneci was forbidden to leave the country for any reason."<ref>[http://www.olympic.org/upload/news/olympic_review/review_2005628172259_UK.pdf "Still A Perfect 10"] ''Olympic Review,'' Paul Ziert, 2005</ref> "Life..." she wrote in her autobiography, "took on a new bleakness."<ref>''Letters to a Young Gymnast''. Comaneci, Nadia. 2004, Basic Books. ISBN 0465012760 pg. 121</ref>
Working in Romania, between 1984 and 1989, Comaneci was a member of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation and helped coach the Romanian junior gymnasts. In November of 1989, a few weeks before the Revolution, she defected with a group of other young Romanians. Her overland journey took her through Hungary, Austria, and finally, to the United States.<ref name=Fischer/><ref>''Letters to a Young Gymnast''. Comaneci, Nadia. 2004, Basic Books. ISBN 0465012760 pg. 137 - 148</ref><ref name= "InterGym" /> Her initial arrival in the United States generated some negative press, focusing on her penchant for heavy makeup and trashy clothes, the fact that Constantin Panait (a Romanian exile who helped her escape from Romania and was her constant companion) was a married father of 4, and hinted at an eating disorder and an unsavory life left behind in Romania.<ref name="Up Front: After Escaping her Romanian Svengali, Nadia Comaneci Tries to Get Her Life Back on the Beam">[http://www.nadiacomaneci.com/library/article052.htm Up Front: After Escaping her Romanian Svengali, Nadia Comaneci Tries to Get Her Life Back on the Beam]. </ref>
Comaneci initially settled in Montreal. With the help of friends, she successfully distanced herself from Panait and the image problems of her initial arrival from Romania. Comaneci spent most of her time touring and promoting lines of gymnastics apparel and aerobic equipment. She also dabbled in modeling, appearing in ads for wedding dresses and Jockey underwear.<ref name= "InterGym" />
While she was living in Montreal, [[Bart Conner]], whom she had met for the first time in 1976 at the American Cup, contacted her and invited her to live in Oklahoma. They became engaged in [[1994]]. Together with Conner, she returned to Romania for the first time since her defection (and since the fall of [[Communism]] and of Ceausescu), and the couple were married in Bucharest on [[April 27]][[1996]]. The ceremony was broadcast live in Romania, and the reception was held in the former presidential palace.<ref name= "InterGym" /><ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-72893201.html "Nadia Tumbles over Wedding"] ''Cincinnati Post,'' April 6, 1996</ref>
On [[June 29]], [[2001]], Comaneci became a [[naturalized citizen]] of the United States. She has also retained her Romanian passport, making her a [[dual citizen]].<ref name=Fischer/>
In December 2003, Comaneci's autobiography, ''Letters To A Young Gymnast'', was published. The memoir answers questions that she has received in letters from fans. She has also been the subject of several unofficial biographies, television documentaries and a made-for-television film, ''Nadia,'' that was broadcast in the United States shortly before the 1984 Olympics.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087774/ Nadia at the IMDB]</ref>
Comaneci and Conner welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Dylan Paul Conner, on [[June 3]], [[2006]] in [[Oklahoma City]], [[Oklahoma]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,198443,00.html "Nadia Comaneci, Bart Conner Welcome Baby Boy"] Associated Press, June 6, 2006</ref><ref>[http://old.jurnalul.ro/articol.php?id=60535 "Former Gymnasts Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner Baptized Their First Child, Dylan Paul"] Catalina Iancu, ''Jurnalul National,'' August 28 2006</ref>
==Recent activities==
Comaneci is active in many charities and international organizations. In 1999, she became the first athlete to be invited to speak at the [[United Nations]] to launch the Year 2000 International Year of Volunteers. She is currently the Vice-Chair of the Board Of Directors of the International [[Special Olympics]] and Vice President of the Board of Directors of the [[Muscular Dystrophy Association]].<ref name= "InterGym" /><ref>[http://www.mda.org/Publications/Quest/q74bart_nadia.html "MDA's Perfect 10s"] Muscular Dystrophy Association</ref> She has also personally funded the construction and operation of the Nadia Comaneci Children's Clinic, a clinic in Bucharest that provides low-cost and free medical and social support to Romanian children.<ref>[http://www.olympic.org/upload/news/olympic_review/review_2005628172259_UK.pdf "Still A Perfect 10"] ''Olympic Review,'' Paul Ziert, 2005</ref>
In 2003, the Romanian government appointed her as an Honorary Consul General of Romania to the United States to deal with bilateral relations between the two nations. She performs this function based out of her [[Norman, Oklahoma]], office.<ref name="consul">[http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco/fallwinter2/71029.htm ''Diplomatic List'', Office of the Chief of Protocol, U.S. Department of State.] Summer 2006. Accessed January 28, 2007.</ref>
In the world of gymnastics, Comaneci is the Honorary President of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation, the Honorary President of Romanian Olympic Committee, Ambassador of Sports of Romania and a member of the International Gymnastics Federation Foundation. She and her husband own the Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy, the Perfect 10 Production Company and several sports equipment shops. They are also the editors of ''International Gymnast'' magazine. Additionally, Comaneci and Conner have provided television commentary for many gymnastics meets, most recently the 2005 World Championships in [[Melbourne]].<ref name= "InterGym" /> In 2004, her 10.0 Montreal uneven bars routine was featured in a commercial for [[Adidas]] which ran during the Athens Olympics.
On [[August 10]], [[2007]], Nadia was a "mob" participant on the American version of the game show [[1 vs. 100 (US game show)|1 vs 100]], and was not eliminated until the last 20 members of the mob were left. In January 2008, she was one of the contestants in the celebrity edition of [[Donald Trump]]'s television program ''[[The Apprentice (U.S. Season 7)|The Apprentice]].''<ref>[http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=c22898ed-f3a8-42dc-905d-5eb02aec8103 "Trump's celebrity 'Apprenti' revealed"] Gina Serpe, E! News, November 19 2007</ref>
==Awards==
Comaneci received the [[Olympic Order]], the highest award given by the [[International Olympic Committee]], in 1984 and 2004. She is the only person to receive this honor twice, and was also the youngest recipient. She has also been inducted into the [[International Gymnastics Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Nadia Comaneci | work = International Gymnastics Hall of Fame | url = http://www.ighof.com/honorees/honorees_nadia.html | accessmonthday = May 12 | accessyear = 2007 }}</ref>
== Special skills ==
Comaneci was known for her clean technique, innovative and difficult original skills, and her stoic, cool demeanor in competition. <ref name=si /><ref name=indy>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20040411/ai_n12753831 "SPORTS ACTIVE: NO TURNING BACK - Nadia Comaneci's perfect Olympic 10"] George Chesterson, ''The Independent,'' April 11, 2004</ref><ref name=leap>[http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1090964/index.htm "A Great Leap Backward"] Anita Verschoth, ''Sports Illustrated,'' April 12, 1976</ref><ref>[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 uneven bars, Comaneci performed her own release move, a kip to front salto. The skill is named after her in the women's ''[[Code of Points (artistic gymnastics)|Code of Points]]'' and, as of 2005, was rated as an 'E' element.<ref name=indy /><ref name=leap />
On balance beam, Comaneci was the first gymnast to successfully perform an aerial walkover and an aerial cartwheel-two back handsprings flight series. She is also credited as being the first gymnast to perform a double-twist dismount.<ref name=si /><ref name=indy /><ref name=leap />
Comaneci's skills on the floor exercise included a double back salto and a double twist.<ref name=leap />
==Pop culture references==
* When Joanne Charis states that the girls need to stay and practice their routines in the movie ''[[Stick It]]'', Meena states: "Who died and made you Nadia?"
* In the ABC hit television show, ''[[Lost (TV series)|Lost]]'' season 3 episode 11, the character Mikhail Bakunin (named after the Russian [[anarchist]] [[Mikhail Bakunin]]) has a cat named Nadia, named after Nadia Comaneci, whom he calls "the greatest athlete the world has ever known." He also reveals that they share a birthday. In addition, the station Mikhail works in is called the "Flame", which is also the name of Comaneci's first gymnastics team.
* [[Gilda Radner]] played Comaneci on several episodes of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', as well as in an extended skit in her 1979 stage show ''Gilda Live''.
* [[Nadia Turner]], singer and actress, and American Idol Season 4 Finalist was named after Nadia Comaneci.
* Swimmer [[Anita Nall]], who won three Olympic medals including a relay gold, was named Nadia as her father was watching television awaiting her birth.<ref>{{cite news|author=William A. Henry III|title=Swimming A Bigger Splash|publisher=[[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]]|date=1992-07-27|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,976108-1,00.html |accessdate=2008-01-23 }}</ref>
==References==
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==External links==
*[http://www.bartandnadia.com Official Site of Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci]
*[http://gymnastics.about.com/od/famousgymnasts/p/nadiacomaneci.htm Profile of Nadia Comaneci]
*[http://www.gymn-forum.net/bios/women/comaneci.html List of competitive results at Gymn Forum]
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| before=[[Irena Szewińska]] |
| title=[[United Press International Athlete of the Year Award#Female winners|United Press International<br>Athlete of the Year]] |
| after=[[Rosemarie Ackermann]] |
| years=1975, 1976}}
{{succession box
| before=[[Billie Jean King]] |
| title=[[Flo Hyman Memorial Award]] |
| after=[[Bonnie Blair]]
| years=1998}}
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[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Gymnasts at the 1976 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Gymnasts at the 1980 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States]]
[[Category:Olympic gymnasts of Romania]]
[[Category:World champion gymnasts]]
[[Category:Medalists at World Gymnastics Championships]]
[[Category:People from Bacău County]]
[[Category:Romanian defectors]]
[[Category:Romanian gymnasts]]
[[Category:Romanian-Americans]]
[[Category:Originators of elements in artistic gymnastics]]
[[Category:Participants in American reality television series]]
[[Category:The Apprentice US contestants]]
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[[nl:Nadia Comăneci]]
[[ja:ナディア・コマネチ]]
[[nap:Nadia Comaneci]]
[[no:Nadia Comăneci]]
[[pl:Nadia Comăneci]]
[[pt:Nadia Comăneci]]
[[ro:Nadia Comăneci]]
[[ru:Команечи, Надя]]
[[scn:Nadia Comaneci]]
[[sl:Nadia Comaneci]]
[[fi:Nadia Comăneci]]
[[sv:Nadia Comaneci]]
[[tr:Nadia Comăneci]]
[[zh:纳迪娅·科马内奇]]