Nadia Comaneci

Romania's Nadia Comaneci was the indisputable star of the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, becoming the first ever gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of "10". During her routine on the uneven bars the first score to appear on the scoreboard was, strangely, a "1.00", leaving the public baffled. In fact, the screen had malfunctioned since it had not been programmed to display a perfect score. In total, Comaneci received seven "10" scores in her events during her Canadian stay. Subsequently millions of television viewers watched in awe as the 14-year-old (1.55m/40kg) sensation won the all-around competition as well as the asymmetric bars and the balance beam in brilliant style. In 1980, a physically-transformed Comaneci arrived in Moscow to defend her titles at a relatively mature and adult age. But having lost some of her dynamism and having to contend with partisan judges, the 18-year-old was not so dominant in the Russian capital. She left Moscow with golds in the floor and the balance beam, and a silver in the all-around competition. Comaneci's career, which began at the age of six and developed until she was selected for the national team at 12, was largely influenced by one person, her trainer Bela Karoly, a strict disciplinarian. Like Karoly had done in 1981, Comaneci fled her country for the United States in 1989, shortly before the fall of Romanian tyrant Nicolai Ceausescu. The gymnastics icon could no longer put up with the unwelcome attentions of the dictator's son, Nicu, who was having her watched by the feared Securitate security forces. She settled in the United States, performing in gymastics events across the country. In 1996 she married the American parallel bar and team Olympic champion (1984) Bart Conner. Comaneci, originally from Moldova, made contributions to the Romanian Gymnastics Federation and became its honorary president. Picture taken 23 July 1976 of Rumanian champion Nadia Comaneci, aged 14, during Olympic Games in Montreal where she was awarded with ten points in two exercices and captured 3 gold medals (beam, uneven bars and general competition). Legendary gymnast, during her career Nadia Comaneci captured four Olympic gold medals (1976 : beam, uneven bars and general competition - 1980, beam) and was the first to score 10 in her discipline. Rumanian champion Nadia Comaneci, aged 14, swings of the uneven bars to earn the perfect score of 10 during Olympic Games 19 July 1976 in Montreal where she was awarded with ten points in two exercices and captured 3 gold medals (beam, uneven bars and general competition). Legendary gymnast, during her career Nadia Comaneci captured four Olympic gold medals (1976 : beam, uneven bars and general competition - 1980, beam) and was the first to score 10 in her discipline. Rumanian champion Nadia Comaneci, aged 14, performs during Olympic beam event 21 July 1976 in Montreal where she was awarded with ten points in two exercices and captured 3 gold medals (beam, uneven bars and general competition). Legendary gymnast, during her career Nadia Comaneci captured four Olympic gold medals (1976 : beam, uneven bars and general competition - 1980, beam) and was the first to score 10 in her discipline. Rumanian champion Nadia Comaneci, aged 14, wawes on the women' s Olympic uneven bars event podium, 24 July 1976 in Montreal. Legendary gymnast, during her career Nadia Comaneci captured four Olympic gold medals and was the first to score 10 in her discipline. At left, silver medalis Rumanian Teodora Ungureano. Legendary gymnast Nadia Comaneci arrives with a friend to attend the Laureus Sports Awards 25 May 2000 in Monaco. AFP PHOTO AFP/PATRICE LAPOIRIE