Nadia Elena Comaneci

An English proverb states, “A hero is a man who is afraid to run away.” Someone who fears the troubles of others, and what those troubles can do, is someone who is considered a hero. Certain heroes don’t possess these qualities, but other qualities such as being committed, persistent, and extraordinary. Also, heroes can be known personally or even worldwide. Nadia Comaneci, a famous Romanian gymnast, is considered a hero for the remarkable person she has been over the years.

On November 12, 1961, Nadia Comaneci was brought into life. She lived in Onesti, Romania with her mother (Stefania-Alexandria), her father (Gheorge), and her younger brother, Adrian. When she was only 6 years old, Bela Karoloyi, a Romanian gymnastics coach, came to her school. He saw Nadia and another girl pretending to be gymnasts, so he started to talk to them and eventually decided to take them to his training gym to take a test. Nadia passed the test and because her parents agreed to let her do gymnastics, her official gymnastics career began.

If you play a sport, you know that you have to practice. Nadia practiced gymnastics six days a week, for four hours each day. That was a lot of practice for a six-year-old girl, but it paid off because when she was only 7, she entered her first competition. She placed 13th, but her coach, Bela Karoloyi, thought she could do better, so he gave her a doll for good luck. He didn’t know that he had just started her doll collection, but she never did place 13th again. She entered the same competition the next year and won 1st prize with flying colors.

Nadia has many accomplishments, but one in particular is very important as it made her famous throughout the world. This great accomplishment took place in Montreal, Canada during the 1976 Summer Olympics. When she hit the uneven bars, the judges were so stunned that they thought it deserved a 10. But they had never had anyone score a 10 before, meaning it was the first the world had seen in gymnastics. They actually didn’t have 10 on the scoreboard, so they put 1.0 instead. Nadia believed it was 1.0 and was very upset, but she soon realized her true score. She scored 6 more perfect 10’s that day, making it 7 in all. Nadia changed gymnastics and is looked up to throughout the world to this day.

Devoted, persistent, and fearless are three words that would strongly describe Nadia Comaneci. She practiced gymnastics so much she had little time left for anything else, which is really being devoted. Persistent means to never give up and that would also describe her very well, as she did fail sometimes, but kept right on practicing and fulfilling her dreams. Fearless also describes her correctly, as even her own coach said about her when she was 6, “She knew no fear.” All of these words correctly describe Nadia Comaneci.

In conclusion, heroes really are extraordinary people. They can be admired throughout the world or just be a personal friend. Nadia Comaneci has completed so many remarkable acts, that she should be considered a truly wonderful hero. Heroes can really be helpful, and I think Nadia Comaneci has done a wonderful job of being a hero.