Former gymnastics champion Nadia Comaneci stated in a message, delivered on the occasion of the launch of the "Nadia Year" at the headquarters of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee (COSR), that the first perfect 10 in gymnastics history, which she achieved at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, was not only her own result but that of an entire country that shaped her.
"The first 10 was not only my result, but the result of a school, of a team, of people who believed in me, of dedicated coaches, of teammates with team spirit and of a country that shaped me. I thank all those who carry these values forward and I hope that Nadia Year 2026 will be a year of inspiration, respect and continuity," Nadia Comaneci said in a video message delivered during the launch conference of the "Nadia Year" programme.
She added that perfection is built through work, discipline, sacrifice and faith.
"50 years since the first 10. It is a celebration for everyone. It is not only my celebration, but that of children and of the future. It is an honour for me that 2026 begins on 15 January, on the National Culture Day. I firmly believe that sport is part of a nation's culture, just like literature, music or art. Perfection does not happen by chance, it is built through work, discipline, sacrifice and faith," the former gymnastics champion added.
On 10 July 2025, President Nicusor Dan signed the decree promulgating the law establishing 2026 as "Nadia Comaneci Year," to mark 50 years since the legendary achievements of the Romanian gymnast at the XXI Summer Olympic Games, held in 1976 in Montreal, where she achieved the first perfect 10 in world gymnastics. Under this project, several events will be organised throughout 2026, with the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee coordinating them.
"On the occasion of marking 'Nadia Comaneci Year,' a legend of national and international sport, the central and local public administration authorities, sports institutions in the country, as well as organisations of citizens belonging to national minorities, may organise activities and events of a sporting, educational and artistic nature," the legislative act stipulates.
Furthermore, Parliament, the Presidential Administration, the Government, local public administration authorities, as well as public institutions under their subordination or coordination, may allocate funds from their own budgets or from other sources raised in accordance with the law, to organise or provide logistical and/or financial support for sporting, cultural, artistic and educational events or promotion programmes, within the limits of the approved budgets.
The XXI Summer Olympic Games rightly went down in history as the "Nadia Comaneci Olympics," being associated with the perfection achieved in artistic gymnastics by Nadia Comaneci. For the first time ever, the Romanian national received a score of 10 on the uneven bars, a score that the electronic scoreboard was unable to display. The electronic apparatus dedicated to gymnastics had not been programmed for a 10, as no one believed such a mark could be achieved.
At the age of 14, Nadia Comaneci became an Olympic star. Not only was she the first gymnast to achieve a perfect 10 at the Olympics, but she managed this feat no fewer than seven times in a single competition of Olympic magnitude, a historic record. She won three gold medals, in the individual all-around, on the balance beam and on the uneven bars, a silver medal with the team and a bronze medal on the floor.
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