Chances are, you have already heard about Nadia Comăneci, the Romanian Olympian. She became a household name after her record-breaking performance at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. However, what most people do not know is her story of how she got to the Olympics, and escaped from Romania after the fact. Let’s lend an ear and hear what happened.
The Early Days
On November 12th, 1961, Nadia Elena Comăneci was born in Onesti, Romania, to parents Gheorghe and Ștefania Comăneci. The couple, both Romanian Orthodox, were beyond thrilled at the birth of their first child. A second child, this time a son, would soon follow.
The Early Days
Hope For Nadia
Nadia isn’t uncommon name in Romania, but her parents had a different reason for naming her that. Nadia’s mother was pregnant when she and her husband were watching a movie that truly inspired them. The protagonist’s name was “Nadya”, which means “hope”. Little did they know just how relevant this name would be.
Hope For Nadia