Nadia Comăneci
![Comăneci in 2024](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/25th_Laureus_World_Sports_Awards_-_Comaneci_-_240421_142851-2.jpg)
One of the world's best-known gymnasts, Comăneci was praised for her artistry and grace, which brought unprecedented global popularity to the sport in the mid-1970s. Called "the most iconic gymnast of the 20th century" by ''El País'', Comăneci was named one of the Athletes of the 20th century by the Laureus World Sports Academy.
Comăneci has lived in the United States since 1989, when she defected from then-Communist Romania, before its revolution in December that year. She later worked with and married American Olympic gold-medal gymnast Bart Conner — a wedding which was held in Bucharest after the fall of the Communist regime and televised live in Romania. Provided by Wikipedia