In all likelihood, you have probably already heard of the Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci. She first shot into stardom with her amazing performance at the Montreal Olympic Games held in Quebec, Canada back in 1976. However, we are willing to bet that you don’t know the rest of her story. From how she became an Olympian to the way she escaped her home country, we have it all for you. Keep reading to find out more about this amazing woman!
The Early Days
Stefania and Gheorghe Comăneci welcomed a baby girl they named Nadia Elena Comăneci in Onesti, Romania on November 12, 1961. Her Romanian Orthodox parents were beyond excited about the birth of their firstborn child. Not long after this, the couple would be blessed with their second child.
The Early Days
Hope For Nadia
In Romania, it is not uncommon to find a girl named Nadia, though there was a special reason why her parents gave her that name. When her mother Stefania was pregnant with her, she had been watching a movie with Gheorghe. They were inspired by the film and liked the name of the protagonist. “Nadya” means “hope”, though we doubt they could foresee how suitable the name actually ended up being.
Hope For Nadia
