Montreal hosted one of the most historic moments of the Olympic. In 1976, Nadia gets a 10. unprecedented feat and an age that today does not allow him to compete
The Olympics 1976 They had torn the eve. That Sunday start the evidence of women's artistic gymnastics and the world is watching the candidates for medals. One has only 14 years and comes from a remote village of the Carpathians, those high mountains in Romania. Your meter body and a half and less than 40 kilos and his dark eyes never found themselves surrounded by so much attention. Treinadores, interpreters, police, journalists - Nadia is always surrounded by people. And the attention pays off: logo on opening day, Romanian youth will make history in the competition.
No Montreal Forum, the great athletes prepare for qualifications, which will be played two days later. Always followed by television is Olga Korbut, the big favorite and representative of the Soviet Union. But not only between her and Nadia things to decide: HA and Ludmila Russa Turischeva, poetic Nellie Kim and child Maria Filatova, from USSR, the exuberant Teodora Ungureanu, Romania, the blonde Carola Dombeck, RDA, and elegant Marta Egervári, Hungary. They are all strong candidates to medals and all are older than the little Nadia. Or why she feels intimidated.
The first exercise is the soil. Each athlete makes his choreography, accompanied by music played on the piano. Nadia exercise is made to the sound of "Yes Sir, That’s My Baby”, song Sinatra sang at times. Male coaches are prevented from being on site, why only see women: judges, assistants, athletes. The only exception are the men who play the songs on the piano when greeting each just play a song, almost like the coaches to give pats on the backs of their gymnasts. A “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby”, soundtrack perfect for any day this, just. Comaneci had a good exercise and get good grades. The athletes line up to go to the next device, all young girls, a immature Lolitas. Nadia smiles and waves as Bela Karolyi, his coach, he taught you.
The following are the uneven bars. Nadia, white swimsuit and little ribbon attached to the tail of horse chestnut, heads there. What happens next is impressive: in 23 seconds, Nadia wheel body, makes jumps pak (jump from the lower bar to the highest), screws, saltos tkachev, everything and anything at high speed, a mortal to output and land. The jury agreed that the test had no flaws. Chama Daniel Baumat, responsible for the electronic scoreboards Swiss Timing, and explains the problem: the judges want to give a 10, but they know that the score is not prepared for it. Just after, The scoreboard shows a simple score 1,00 and the multitude of 18 thousand people (some with tickets 200 Dollars) makes a deafening. It's the first 10 in the history of gymnastics. The Soviet delegation protested and Nadia responds to letter. "I know I have not had failures. I've done this 15 times. "
But the highlight is yet to come: the balance beam, with just over 2 decimeters in length. The small-big Comaneci makes 90 the 2nd unforgettable, between jumps, feathers up, pirouettes, one Valdez (flic-a kind of starting sitting FLAC), each movement performed with an elegance and calm that few have seen and highlights the technique that makes the. 10, 10, more than deserved 10, in the most difficult of all gymnastics apparatus.
At the end of the day, some accuse Nadia seemed little fun when there. But what stands out is for all its natural charm. Not Theater, It is not a fake smile for the jury and the public. It's seriously the most important time of your life. And without fail.
