Nadia Comaneci Talks To FemaleFirst

Nadia Comaneci set the gymnastic competition alight in 1976 when she competed at the Montreal Games - not only did she pick up three gold medals but she scored the first perfect 10.

She was in London this week as the tickets for the 2012 Olympics went on sale. FemaleFirst caught up with her to talk about the 2012 Games as well as looking back over her career.

- Olympic tickets went on sale 15th March How can Olympic fans get their hands on tickets?

Well they should log onto http://www.tickets.london2012.com/ and they should have all the information there to apply for the tickets they want.

They have 42 days to decide what they want to see so it’s not first apply first serve, it’s a marathon not a sprint!

- We are all excited about the games coming to London so what can Britain expect from the Olympics in terms of the atmosphere and the spectacle?

Well I think that London is a beautiful place to be anyway and a lot of people love the city and when you throw the Olympic Games on top of that it makes it so unique.

I think that people should start planning their holidays to London next year and star looking and what events they want to go and see.

It’s going to be lots of fun, an unbelievable experience because the Olympics don’t come to your country everyday so it’s going to be a unique time for everyone.

- You won three gold medals back in 1976 and two in 1980. What do you think when you look back on that experience now, does it bring back lots nice memories for you?

Yes, I’m still remembered as the gymnast who scored a perfect 10 thirty five years ago, which is amazing after all that time.

I remember all the experiences I had in 1976 and 1980 games and that’s why I’m looking forward to being a spectator in London 2012 because I don’t want to miss any of it.

- There must have been the best moments of your life, winning those gold medals?

I think that the best moment of my life is being part of the Olympics, and when you throw some medals on top that just makes the moment and your career more spectacular.

I still didn’t expect to go on, make history and win so many medals, it just happened. I was so happy to be part of the team and part of the whole Olympic experience.

- What are your fondest memories when you look back on ’76 and ’80, aside from winning the gold medals?

I would say the Olympic villages and parks and the experiences I had there. You can’t find those experiences anywhere else, everyone should live that moment in the Olympic park and that’s why it’s important that people should make the effort to come here next year. 

- You were named one of the athletes of the century back in 2000 by the Laureus World Sports Academy. How does it feel to have your work held in such high regard?

I think it’s unbelievable when you use the word century [laughs]. The fact that I was there with Mohamed Ali, who is the legend of legends!

I thought ‘oh my gosh’ the things that I did in 1976 and 1980 have brought me here, it’s unbelievable. I could never have imagined anything like that happening when I was competing.

- What do you think of the crop of gymnasts and who do you think will have success in London next year?

I think people in the UK will need to look out for Beth Tweddle for sure on the even bars and floors and Louis Smith on the pommel horse.

Also in the women’s competition the teams from Russia, USA, Romania and China will all be the ones to look out for. 

- You mentioned Beth Tweddle there. Do you think she will get a medal next year?

I think she should. The most important thing for her is she should keep herself healthy and away from injuries.

She is over 16 now and this is a huge opportunity for her to do something next year. The games being in London is a huge motivation but she’ll also be under a little bit of pressure, but I think she can deal very well with that.

- Do you think having the home crowd will add to the pressure? Or do you think she could succeed because extra support that she will get?

I think it will be both fear and excitement. Scary, but in a good way!

- Would you have liked to have had the Olympics in Romania when you were competing?

The only big competition I had in Romania was in 1981. You know the expectations that people have for you and I was lucky enough to live with those expectations.

I’m sure Beth will be well prepared to handle everything because she’s had lots of experiences in the Gymnastics.  

- Are there any Romanian or American athletes that we should look out for next year?

American gymnast Shaw Johnson is training and thinking about making a comeback. However in the states they haven’t decided the lineup because everyone is pretty new to the team.

In Romania I know that Ana Porgras will be a part of the team and Sandra Izbasa. Russia will also have a very strong gymnastics team as they are very good right now. 

- What about outside gymnastics are there any other Romanian athletes that we should look out for?

We are pretty good at rowing, judo and fencing so look out for us in those disciplines.

- What has Nadia Comaneci got planned for the long term future?

I have a five year old and you know what that means.

- He keeps you busy.

Yes [laughs] That’s my number one priority. I’m trying to keep my trips abroad very short so I can get back to my boy.

- Does your son do gymnastics; will he be following in his mother’s footsteps?

Yes he does gymnastics every day, but I’m not sure he’s going to follow that all the way but it’s good to keep busy doing lots of sports.

He also does karate and he’s very interested in music, he plays the drums a lot. But we decided that he should go to the music store instead of playing at home!

- So you get some rest and some peace and quiet?

Peace and quiet, what does that mean?! [laughs]

To Apply for London 2012 tickets visit www.tickets.london2012.com any time between 15 March and 26 April

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw

Nadia Comaneci set the gymnastic competition alight in 1976 when she competed at the Montreal Games - not only did she pick up three gold medals but she scored the first perfect 10.

She was in London this week as the tickets for the 2012 Olympics went on sale. FemaleFirst caught up with her to talk about the 2012 Games as well as looking back over her career.

- Olympic tickets went on sale 15th March How can Olympic fans get their hands on tickets?

Well they should log onto http://www.tickets.london2012.com/ and they should have all the information there to apply for the tickets they want.

They have 42 days to decide what they want to see so it’s not first apply first serve, it’s a marathon not a sprint!

- We are all excited about the games coming to London so what can Britain expect from the Olympics in terms of the atmosphere and the spectacle?

Well I think that London is a beautiful place to be anyway and a lot of people love the city and when you throw the Olympic Games on top of that it makes it so unique.

I think that people should start planning their holidays to London next year and star looking and what events they want to go and see.

It’s going to be lots of fun, an unbelievable experience because the Olympics don’t come to your country everyday so it’s going to be a unique time for everyone.

- You won three gold medals back in 1976 and two in 1980. What do you think when you look back on that experience now, does it bring back lots nice memories for you?

Yes, I’m still remembered as the gymnast who scored a perfect 10 thirty five years ago, which is amazing after all that time.

I remember all the experiences I had in 1976 and 1980 games and that’s why I’m looking forward to being a spectator in London 2012 because I don’t want to miss any of it.

- There must have been the best moments of your life, winning those gold medals?

I think that the best moment of my life is being part of the Olympics, and when you throw some medals on top that just makes the moment and your career more spectacular.

I still didn’t expect to go on, make history and win so many medals, it just happened. I was so happy to be part of the team and part of the whole Olympic experience.

- What are your fondest memories when you look back on ’76 and ’80, aside from winning the gold medals?

I would say the Olympic villages and parks and the experiences I had there. You can’t find those experiences anywhere else, everyone should live that moment in the Olympic park and that’s why it’s important that people should make the effort to come here next year. 

- You were named one of the athletes of the century back in 2000 by the Laureus World Sports Academy. How does it feel to have your work held in such high regard?

I think it’s unbelievable when you use the word century [laughs]. The fact that I was there with Mohamed Ali, who is the legend of legends!

I thought ‘oh my gosh’ the things that I did in 1976 and 1980 have brought me here, it’s unbelievable. I could never have imagined anything like that happening when I was competing.

- What do you think of the crop of gymnasts and who do you think will have success in London next year?

I think people in the UK will need to look out for Beth Tweddle for sure on the even bars and floors and Louis Smith on the pommel horse.

Also in the women’s competition the teams from Russia, USA, Romania and China will all be the ones to look out for. 

- You mentioned Beth Tweddle there. Do you think she will get a medal next year?

I think she should. The most important thing for her is she should keep herself healthy and away from injuries.

She is over 16 now and this is a huge opportunity for her to do something next year. The games being in London is a huge motivation but she’ll also be under a little bit of pressure, but I think she can deal very well with that.

- Do you think having the home crowd will add to the pressure? Or do you think she could succeed because extra support that she will get?

I think it will be both fear and excitement. Scary, but in a good way!

- Would you have liked to have had the Olympics in Romania when you were competing?

The only big competition I had in Romania was in 1981. You know the expectations that people have for you and I was lucky enough to live with those expectations.

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