Olympic gymnastics legend Nadia Comăneci is back in Montreal this week, returning to the city where she made history 50 years ago with the first perfect 10 in Olympic competition.
The nine-time Olympic medallist is taking part in several events marking the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.
Speaking to CityNews ahead of her visit, Comăneci said returning to Montreal remains an emotional experience.
“It’s very emotional for me to come back to Montreal every time,” she said. “Even though it’s been at least three generations have passed.”
On Thursday, Comăneci is scheduled to meet with media alongside Canadian Olympic Committee president and fellow Montreal 1976 Olympian Tricia Smith.
Her visit continues Friday, when she will receive an honorary doctorate from the Université de Montréal before attending the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at the Centre Claude-Robillard.
On Saturday, Comăneci will visit the Montreal 1976: An Olympic Legacy exhibition at the McCord Stewart Museum before taking part in “Nadia Day” at Olympic Park, where people sharing her first name will gather to meet the Romanian gymnastics icon ahead of the free Feu sacré celebration concert.
At just 14 years old, Comăneci captivated the world at the Montreal Games, earning seven perfect 10s and winning three Olympic gold medals. Her groundbreaking performance transformed the sport and cemented her place in Olympic history.
Reflecting on her lasting legacy, Comăneci said she is touched that people continue to remember her achievement five decades later.
“When you think about the world that we live today and how fast people turn, something happens, we close the door and we move on,” she said. “To be able to recall moments that happened 50 years ago, it’s very, very rare and unique. It means that we really have to have an impact on somebody’s life to remember that moment.”
Add CityNews Montreal as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.
