All of us have probably watched many Olympics Games over the years, the most recent likely to be the impressive Beijing Olympics of 2008. There have been many athletes who have impressed us with their various skills in swimming, running, jumping, lifting, and so on ...
For me however, the most memorable athlete was one pint-sized lass who competed in the Montreal Olympic Games of 1976. Do you know who I'm talking about?
Yup, she's none other than Nadia Comaneci of Romania, who at age 14 scored the first-ever perfect 10.0 with her routine in the uneven bars section of the gymnastics event. 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 !
In fact she scored 10.0 six more times during that Olympics. The world applauded and fell in love with her.
Here are two videoclips that will surely bring back memories ...
I remember there was even a "Nadia's Theme" music which did quite well in the pop charts after the Olympics.
Nadia also went on to win two more golds at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.
But have you ever wondered what happened to Nadia Comaneci after those Olympic highlights?
Well, this is what Nadia looks like now ...
Obviously still a big star in her own right !
Anyway what I learnt was that Nadia went through some difficult years in the 80s. Her first attempt to defect resulted in her being closely monitored by the Romanian authorities. Eventually she did move to the US and holds dual citizenship (US and Romania).
In 1996, Nadia married US Olympic gymnast Bart Connor, himself a gold-medal winner. Together they run the Bart Connor Gymnastics Academy in Norman, Oklahoma. Their first child Dylan Connor was born in 2006.
In December 2003, Nadia published "Letters To A Young Gymnast", a combination of mentoring book and memoir. She has also been the subject of several unofficial biographies, TV documentaries and a made-for-television film, Nadia, that was broadcast in the United States just before the 1984 Olympics
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yea, i remember watchin her great performance on our black and white TV set in Kuching.
ReplyDeleteNadia has certainly grown up nicely. Well rounded.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure that's not Penelope Cruz?
ReplyDeleteNope, Georgie boy. Take a look at this ...
ReplyDeletehttp://honewatson.com/og/nadia-comaneci/
Another quite recent article on Nadia ...
ReplyDeletehttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/07/01/Comaneci.cuw/
Some resemblance there. The sultry exotic look. If you don't believe me, have a look at Penelope here [sorry the link is a bit long - haha]- just highlight the url below, copy and paste in your browser. It'll be worth your while, boys. If you don't know how to do it, maybe Jimmy will run a spread on her LOL:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.google.com.my/images?q=penelope+cruz&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=84XJTJ7YKYeivQPvyunWDw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=3&ved=0CDQQsAQwAg&biw=1024&bih=602
WOWWWWWWW !!!!!
ReplyDeleteCURVALICIOUS and CLEAVALICIOUS !!!!!
ReplyDeleteJimmy, it's time to have a page 3 gal on our blog! We're growing up, hahaha. Soon we will have our own centerfold!
ReplyDeleteKeep reading, Georgie-boy. You may get your wish one day. LOL
ReplyDeleteNice post WJ.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the title of this post, Nadia came into my mind immediately. Yes, she was the darling of the '76 Olympics. (any coincidence here?)
ReplyDeleteRead somewhere that she wanted to defect because she was actually held against her will by the son of the former Romanian dictator.
Anyway, the name Comaneci is not pronounced Co-ma-ne-chi. Maybe WJ can enlighten us with the actual Romanian pronunciation. :)
It sounds roughly like "Ko ma nitch"
ReplyDeleteMaybe my friend who is now in Vienna can swing by Romania on his way home and see if he can pick up any Nadia memorabilia for us. LOL
ReplyDeleteya, sure. I re-routed my flight to Romania. Only to find that she had moved to the USA and is now a naturalised citizen. ai yah.
ReplyDeletemaybe they are all built like that in Romania. did u check it out, Anon Oct 29, 5:37AM ???
ReplyDeleteNadia - hot mama !
ReplyDeletewhat page 3 gal?
ReplyDeleteYa loh, GL is right. Nadia does look like Penelope Cruz.
ReplyDeletePenelope Cruz recently seen with baby bump
ReplyDeleteIt appears that Nadia had her first child much later in life. When she was in her mid 40s if I'm not mistaken.
ReplyDeletecheck out
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1044249/Im-super-fit-mum-46-says-gymnast-Nadia-stunned-world-Olympic-perfect-10.html
for more Nadia news.
Think my eyes hurt a little looking at Nadia's photo la....
ReplyDeleteooo la la, Laywer Boy GL has been googling (or oogling) P Cruz.
ReplyDeleteToo much exposure for you, Norbert ? Wear your sunglasses lah !
ReplyDeleteRemember another champion gymnast Olga Korbut?
ReplyDeleteMy most memorable Olympic star was Daley Thompson.
ReplyDeleteDaley Thompson is a former decathlete with four world records, two Olympic gold medals (1980 & 1984), three Commonwealth titles, and wins in the World and European Championships, Thompson is considered by many to be the greatest decathlete of all time.
The player takes part in the ten events of the modern decathlon:
Day 1: 100 metres, Long jump, Shot putt, High jump, 400 metres
Day 2: 110 hurdles, Pole vault, Discus, Javelin, 1500 metres
Cheers.
P.S. Been busy lately but still find time to browse WJ's blog.
I remember and greatly respect Daley Thompson too, Gerard. After his Olympic triumph, I remember one Apple game "Olympic Decathelon" became very popular. And everyone wanted to be Daley. LOL
ReplyDeleteAnon 9.20pm, don't be like that la.....wear my sunglasses see her like negro leh.....
ReplyDeleteNadia would be a bit off balance if she did her gymnastics stunts today. The centre of gravity has shifted much higher.
ReplyDeleteWow, the grown up Nadia is even BIGGER than before :)
ReplyDeletewhat a BIG star, then and now !!!
ReplyDelete