When it comes to Eastern European countries, it appears that the men and women who live there have a talent for sports, particularly gymnastics. But, in the proud athletic heritage of Eastern Europe, there is no more famous gymnast than Romania’s Nadia Comăneci.
Nadia is the first gymnast in Olympic history to receive a perfect 10/10 score – but her rise to fame is almost as exciting as her athletic achievements. Let’s take a look at this one-of-a-kind woman’s story. And learn how she came to be the person she is today.
Beginning in Romania
Nadia was born in the Romanian Carpathian town of Onesti. Her mother decided to enrol her in gymnastics classes when she was a child because she was always hyperactive and full of energy.
She expected this is going to make little Nadia even more tired, but it had the opposite effect. Nadia practiced jumping, running, and moving whenever she could because she was so engrossed in the sport. Her mother couldn’t make her tired, but she could make her love the sport.