Nadia Comaneci returns to Madrid. The Olympic legend, author of Montreal 76 of the first 10 in history in the exercise (uneven bars), participated yesterday in Metafuturo, an event that brought together leaders and experts to discuss the challenges of the new system … world. During her visit, she can also be seen at the Santiago Bernabéu, enjoying a historic first MLS match in Spain. Amongst everything, she still makes time to review the role of women in today’s sports on ABC and recall some of the milestones of a life marked by distinction and resistance.
-How was it at the Bernabéu?
-It was unbelievable. When I knew that I would be in Madrid and that the match would be historic because it was the first in Spain, I said: “I have to be there.” I loved it. An amazing and unique entertainment show. I wonder how audiences in Spain received this. I think the experience was great.
-A few months ago I also stopped by Madrid to participate in the Laureus Awards ceremony. He was at a round table with Armand Duplantis and Rebecca Andrade, and the first thing he did was make everyone lie down. How important is sports in your life?
-everyone. There are three important things in life: good sleep, exercise and good nutrition. Taking care of yourself in these three things is essential.
In your speech, you talked about the barriers that women’s sports are still breaking. How much is left to do? Where should we move forward?
-Progress has been made. When I compare the situation now to a long time ago, when I started, equality is increasing. I have gained respect for my athletic abilities since I was very young. Now progress has been made in the idea of having women in leadership positions. I believe that through sports, many stereotypes are broken. There were sports that were supposed to be designed only for men, because there was an idea and culture that women did not have enough strength to play difficult sports. This has already been proven to be incorrect. Women should have the opportunity to do everything just like men. The salary is also not the same, but it comes close. The time men spend watching television is slightly longer than that of women. These are areas where improvement can be made.
Nadia Comaneci during an interview with ABC
-I was a girl who underwent extreme discipline to achieve athletic success. What role model do you advocate today for future gymnasts?
-It seems like it was yesterday. Now I appreciate much more what that 14 year old girl did. It was a time with few opportunities for us. My mother sent me to a very small place where people did tricks, not knowing that it would lead me to this point. I don’t think I would have understood the importance of discipline and flexibility if I hadn’t played sports. Without this extreme action. I think everyone has to go through some kind of intense work in their career, whatever they do, especially in sports. If you want to be the best of the best, you have to work hard. Now there are different models, because there is much more information than before. With AI, you can measure what you need to work on in your body, how much energy you have, how many hours are right for you, when you need to do recovery… but the work is the same; There is more communication.
-Choose one: discipline or talent?
Discipline and talent must go together. One without the other doesn’t work. If you have talent but don’t work, you’ll only work once.
Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the first 10 games in Montreal. Do you remember the day well or just some loose details?
-Yes, yes, I remember everything: the routine, the moment of practice… I also remember how the scoreboard could not show the score because it did not expect someone to score ten. I didn’t know I was making history. I wanted to do my routine without mistakes, and that made me happy. I think the 50th anniversary means celebrating a historical moment that proves that anyone can be great. It doesn’t matter where you were born. With hard work, dedication and the right people around you this can be achieved. It’s hard to believe that I keep meeting people who say I’m an influencer.
-You are preparing a documentary for next year about that moment. What will appear in it that is already unknown?
– There will be many photos from when I was young, and a lot of black and white recordings before I became an Olympic champion. It will show a little bit of my personality, life with family. It will show the story of a girl who decided to never give up and tried to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We’re still working on that. It is a historical documentary. It also celebrates my culture.
– You once said that your escape from Romania Ceaușescu was an unconscious act. But how many times have you thought then: Blessed unconsciousness?
-I think everyone is doing the best they can with what they have. I was born in Romania. I had a big family around me and had the opportunity to do gymnastics there. Yes, it was a difficult time, not only for me, but for everyone, because there was no freedom. But I tried to bring out the best in this community, this family. When I felt like I wanted to do more, I decided to leave. But then Romania became a free country and then I returned with everything I had learned in the United States. Now I am a person with two families. Two countries. I feel at home here and there. And I feel very lucky about that. I wouldn’t change anything. I’ve always felt some freedom, because I’ve always done what I wanted, in different ways.
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