The star of many major events for a while now, universally-acclaimed top gymnast Nadia Comăneci is without a doubt the most well-known Romanian of our time. That is, of course, a reason to boast for me, as an humble native of this country, although I must admit, these are times (not so many, but still), in which I'd like to know that I can talk to foreigners about something other than her and, you know, everyone's favourite vampire...
"I suck out every conversation subject except myself, ha ha!"
Source: https://postalmuseum.si.edu/artofthestamp/SubPage%20table%20images/artwork/arts/Bela%20Lugosi%20as%20Dracula/BIGdracula.htm
Despite my minor regrets, we have to say that Nadia truly earned her place as a symbol of Romania and, on a wider-scale, the supreme example of excellence in gymnastics and sports in general. We can surely say that she "has the world at her feet", and that statement has been proven quite recently when Sarah Jessica Parker literally kneeled in front of her on the Red Carpet at the Golden Globe Awards, after which, even more recently, she was in the spotlight again, this time in her own field, when she was a member of the jury of the 2017 Laureus World Sports Awards, choosing the nominees and winners, and also handing out (naturally) the prize for Gymnast of the Year.
That's why I say that, because of the wave of popularity she's riding on now, we shouldn't be surprised if she will be given a special honor at the next Academy Awards too, which, of course, would mean that she could be giving her opinion on that year's sports movies (there are some every year), and if that happens, who would actually object to that? I mean it's downright ridiculous that she hasn't had a movie about her made, even though she certainly would deserve one. Actually, she could even star in a Hollywood flick or two given her looks, for sure.
Seriously, what age would you give her?
Source: http://bucurestifm.ro/2015/11/12/la-multi-ani-nadia-comaneci/
Still, few people know where Nadia started her career, and even fewer know anything about the Performance Center at Deva,where all the young girls with a talent for gymnastics were trained from throughout the country. Separated from their families at a young age, to practically live with their trainers, and spend a chunk of their lives at the Center where they were under a downright Spartan training regime, rumored to be even beaten or starved to maintain their figures, though this may be because their looks and especially performances were so unearthly to most people, that they had to think there was some king of "dark" secret involved.
There was always a tint of controversy on the subject of Romanian gymnast's achievement of perfection, which caused a media uproar in the country merely a year ago, when a also well-known gymnast released a book which justified the Center being given the nickname "The Auschwitz of Gymnastics" during its heyday, while other persons involved, including former and current gymnastics champions, defended were of the opinion that the official nickname of the Center, " The Medal Factory", suited it much better.
In the end, no matter where the truth lies, it should be known very well that, in the world of sports, maybe more than anywhere else, hard and constant training is the only sure way to the podium, even though it may not contain the things mentioned above, it is still "tougher than in the army" to paraphrase what an interviewed gymnastics champion said.
So, given into account the declining trend of gymnastics performance in my home country recently, and the shocking way some gymnasts in Romania ended up in their later years (penniless and forgotten), we can surely say that, just like when she landed the first perfect score in gymnastics in history in the Montreal Olympics, Nadia created such an unbreakable legacy that she still is on the first place even many years later!
Let's just hope that her example of hard work and sacrifice will inspire future Romanian gymnasts, in a possible revival of the former glory we had in this field, and maybe this time, without the controversy...
Source: http://montrealgazette.com/sports/montreal-remains-close-to-gymnastic-queen-nadia-comanecis-heart
Source: http://www.romaniatv.net/media_94736_nadia-comaneci-stralucitoare-la-gala-laureus-awards-intr-o-rochie-a-la-angelina-jolie-foto-video_70479.html
If only all sportsmen would keep their shine like this...
'Til we meet again!