Gică Hagi, moving eulogy to Nadia Comăneca. The gymnastics legend receives the highest award today, in Cotroceni
The former great Olympic champion Nadia Comăneci will receive today, starting at 12.00, the National Order “Star of Romania” in the Grand Cross degree, the highest distinction of the Romanian state. The decoration ceremony will take place at the Cotroceni Palace and will be officiated by the president Nicușor Dan.
Gică Hagi, words of praise to Nadia Comăneci Photo/Sportpictures
The recognition comes half a century after the Olympic Games in Montreal in 1976, where Nadia Comăneci entered the history of world sports after obtaining the first perfect score of 10 ever awarded in gymnastics.
The President conferred the National Order “Star of Romania” in the Grand Cross degree to the legendary gymnast Nadia Comăneci, “as a sign of high gratitude, appreciation and pride for the exceptional dedication and professionalism with which he contributed to the consolidation of the Olympic prestige of our country, forever redefining the limits of human excellence and inscribing his name in the sports heritage and identity of Romania“.
Gheorghe Hagi: “Nadia was the pride of Romania!”
Present Friday evening at the Parliament Palace, Gheorghe Hagi emphasized the huge impact that Nadia Comăneci had on world sport. The Romanian national coach recalled that the former gymnast entered history by obtaining the first perfect 10 ever awarded in a gymnastics competition and specified that her performances represented a source of inspiration for many generations of athletes.
“She got a 10 for the first time and inspired us all. I saw on TV when she got the maximum mark, Nadia Comăneci was the pride of Romania. I was actually talking to Simona (no – Simona Halep) when I saw the images from that time now, it's incredible how she could sit on the beam. It's about training, training, rehearsal and more rehearsal, work, work and finally everything comes true.
Nadia is a brand for Romania. She brought perfection to sports. We are proud of her and I am glad that she was part of such a gala, very well organized. It is a source of inspiration for everyone, success sends a very clear message to everyone, that it is possible. She did this, as did the other great athletes of Romania. So it is possible, Nadia is an example!”said Hagi, at the Nadia Gala.
The year 2026 was cataloged as “The Year of Nadia Comăneci”, following the decree signed by the head of state.
