The name “Nadia” needs no introduction.

In Canada, destiny would have me watching her live on television during the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games. It is a moment I will remember for the rest of my life.

I watched her moment repeatedly in instant replays. Instead of seeing a whole bunch of scores such as .98, .97 .96, .95, all I could see was 1.0. Was the scoreboard defective?

Was there a power shortage? For the next hour or it seemed, audiences around the world held their collective breath. The world was stunned. It watched in disbelief, waiting for confirmation before it could breathe again.

Nadia Comăneci had done what had never been done. She had scored a perfect 10. She became the first gymnast to be awarded a “ perfect score of 10” at an Olympic Games and she had done so for the Romanian women’s gymnastics team.

By the time the Montreal 1976 Olympics ended, Nadia had earned seven perfect tens, three gold medals, one bronze, and one silver.  Four years later at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Nadia earned two more gold medals and two silver to bring her Olympic total to nine medals.

 In 1996, she was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. In 1999, she was honored by ABC News and Ladies’ Home Journal as one of the 100 Most Important Women of the 20th Century. In 1999, she received a World Sports Award after being elected Athlete of the Century during a gala dinner in Vienna, Austria.

Nadia will be in Romania as part of “The Nadia Year,” a series of events celebrating the 50th anniversary of her historic success in Montreal.

Given this special occasion, my admiration for the Olympic movement, and the fact that I am a Canadian living in Romania, it feels particularly appropriate to dedicate this article to Nadia and to recognize her remarkable contribution to sport and society. So, here we go:

1. Thank you, Nadia, for taking the time to meet me

In 2006, Nadia generously took the time to meet me to discuss Marketing opportunities. Fourteen years later, in 2020, she gracefully accepted to contribute quotes and her experience for my book, Demigods, Aliens and Ordinary People.

One of her quotes was later shared during the Sports Diplomacy Strategic Dialogue conference, organized by Valentin Preda. The event brought together Olympic athletes, sports federation presidents, ambassadors, members of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee (COSR), and many other distinguished guests.

The conference  raised many important elements of sports and sports diplomacy. At one point, Ana Maria Brânză, Olympic champion and one of the most decorated athletes in Romanian fencing history said a few words and reminded everyone the importance of supporting athletes. 

Because of my passion for the Olympics and the COSR I was also invited to say a few words. This is when I remembered one of  Nadia’s quotes which she shared with me.  In fact, given Nadia’s incredible success as an athlete, in 2020 I asked Nadia how important her coach had been in her journey to Olympic gold. Her answer highlighted an even broader truth:

“No win is only for the player. Or the sportsperson. It takes more than a good or even an excellent sportsperson to win. You need the support of a good coach, and even more, the support and confidence that only your family can give. When you have a very supporting family by your side, even if they’re your parents, your children, your siblings or your partner, you feel their energy with you. They give you strength and confidence that you can achieve any goal. Of course, you need to work hard and train with your coach, but there is nothing more powerful than your family having your back. “

This was my contribution to the conference –  a stunning quote from Nadia. I could feel the audience reacting to her experience whereby athletes—especially young athletes—need support. The greater the support system around them, the greater the likelihood they will succeed not only in sport, but also in life.

We must remember that behind every Olympic athlete, there is also a team of caring parents, friends, friends and mentors who helped make the journey possible.

2. Thank you, Nadia, for being a role model for Romania

Meeting Nadia in 2006 was indeed a great day for me—45 minutes of pure bliss.

There I was, sitting across from Romania’s best-known ambassador. I found Nadia to be humble, open, kind, professional, and genuinely interested in people.

I left that meeting feeling fortunate and inspired.

Fast forward to early 2020. I thought I might reach out to Nadia and interview her for the book. Would she remember me? Would she be too busy?

And she did reply; kindly! This time, “I was over the moon”!

Her example demonstrates that anyone who reaches the pinnacle of their profession can become a force for positive change. Leadership is not only about achievement; it is about humility, optimism, and maintaining faith in people.

In today’s geopolitical environment, reminders like these are more important than ever.

3. Thank you, Nadia, for encouraging the importance of sport

Sport encourages physical movement, health, discipline, fair play, competition, and resilience of the soul.

Many athletes have told me that some of their most important lessons came from defeats rather than victories. Setbacks taught them how to persevere, improve, and come back stronger.

As the Japanese proverb reminds us:

“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”

Sport also creates deep human connections and lifelong friendships—locally, nationally, and globally. It builds bridges between people and cultures in ways few other activities can.

4. Thank you, Nadia, for giving us hope

If a young 14-year-old girl living during a difficult communist era could become a global ambassador and sporting icon, imagine what most of us can accomplish today with the freedoms and opportunities available to us, if we set our mind to it!

Nadia’s story reminds us that extraordinary achievements often begin with ordinary people who dare to dream and are willing to work relentlessly toward those dreams.

5. Thank you, Nadia, for this quote

One of Nadia’s quotes has inspired me in more ways than she will ever know:

“Passion. Commitment. Be better every day. Every single small thing, every single detail has a massive impact on your work. Give 100% of your best and try every day to be even better than yourself.”

Those words remain as relevant today as ever.

Welcome back to Romania, Nadia, for “The Nadia Year.”

May your charisma, dynamism, and grace continue to inspire generations of Romanian athletes—and all those who believe that excellence, humility, and perseverance can change lives.

Photo credit: Alamy