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Nadia Comăneci

Nadia Comăneci is a Romanian former artistic gymnast best known for becoming the first gymnast to receive a perfect score of 10.0 in an Olympic event at the 1976 Montreal Games.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Nadia Comăneci is a Romanian former artistic gymnast best known for becoming the first gymnast to receive a perfect score of 10.0 in an Olympic event at the 1976 Montreal Games. She won five Olympic gold medals and is regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts in history.

Early life and training

Nadia Comăneci was born in Onești, Romania, in 1961 and began gymnastics at a young age. She was coached early in her career by Béla Károlyi, who helped develop her into an elite international gymnast.

1976 Montreal Olympics

Comăneci became globally famous at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, where she received the first perfect 10.0 ever awarded in Olympic gymnastics. She won three gold medals at those Games and became a major figure in sports history.

Later career and achievements

At the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Comăneci added two more gold medals to her collection. Across her career she also won world and European titles and was recognized with major honours in gymnastics.

Legacy

Comăneci is remembered for changing expectations in women’s gymnastics through both her technical skill and her historical perfect score. Her achievements continue to be cited as a benchmark in Olympic and gymnastics history.

Key facts

  • She scored the first perfect 10.0 in Olympic gymnastics history at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
  • At Montreal, she won three gold medals, including the all-around title.
  • She won two more gold medals at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
  • Her Olympic medal total is nine medals: five gold, three silver, and one bronze.
  • She was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
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Canadian context

She is closely connected to Canada because her historic first perfect 10.0 was scored at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, one of the most famous moments in Canadian sports history.[2]

Frequently asked questions

Who is Nadia Comăneci?
She is a Romanian former artistic gymnast best known for earning the first perfect 10.0 in Olympic gymnastics history at the 1976 Montreal Games.
Why is Nadia Comăneci famous?
She became the first gymnast to receive a perfect Olympic score and won five Olympic gold medals, making her one of the sport’s most celebrated athletes.
How many Olympic medals did she win?
She won nine Olympic medals in total: five gold, three silver, and one bronze.
At which Olympics did she get the first perfect 10?
She received the first perfect 10.0 in Olympic gymnastics at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
What events did she win gold in at the Olympics?
Her Olympic gold medals came in the all-around, uneven bars, and balance beam at Montreal, and in balance beam and floor exercise at Moscow.
Is Nadia Comăneci still active in gymnastics?
She is no longer a competitor, but she has remained involved in the sport through public appearances, commentary, and promotion of gymnastics.

References

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nadia-Comaneci
    Supports: Birth date, Romanian nationality, and first Olympic perfect 10.0.
  2. Olympics.com — https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/nadia-comaneci
    Supports: 1976 Montreal performance, additional Olympic gold medals, and notable gymnastic innovations.
  3. Olympedia — https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/28995
    Supports: Olympic history and first perfect 10.0 in Olympic history.
  4. International Gymnastics Hall of Fame / US Gymnastics Hall of Fame — https://usghof.org/n_comaneci
    Supports: Career medal totals and Hall of Fame recognition.
  5. Biography.com — https://www.biography.com/athletes/nadia-comaneci
    Supports: Olympic achievements, retirement, and later public work.
  6. Europeana — https://www.europeana.eu/en/stories/nadia-comaneci-the-first-olympic-gymnast-to-score-a-perfect-10
    Supports: Montreal legacy and historical significance of the perfect 10.