Former iconic gymnastics champion Nadia Comaneci said on Tuesday in Brussels, where she was celebrated at the European Parliament on the 50th anniversary of her scoring the first-ever perfect 10 in Olympic history, that taking part in the conference 'European Values and Excellence: The Legacy of Nadia Comaneci, 50 Years On' felt to her as if she were competing on a fifth gymnastics apparatus.

'It was extremely emotional, because I did not realise that that moment would have such a big impact on people all over the world, who grew up with or heard about that historic 10. It was a soul-stirring experience, because I reviewed my whole story again, condensed into a meeting celebrating excellence, perfection, a historic moment. I met again with many friends, but also with people I had never met before, who came and shared this emotion with me. I felt as if I were stepping onto the competition floor, I thought the floor routine was next and wondered where the music was. It was the fifth apparatus for me,' Nadia Comaneci said at the end of the conference held at the European Parliament.

'I believe this event was huge and I hope its impact will be great. We must be aware of the importance of sport, because it is not only important to win medals, it is important for society too. In sport, everyone speaks the same language and the whole planet connects when it comes to sport. Sport represents a country, a community, a culture, and I am grateful that this moment was honored. I hope this will be a restart for today's generations and for parents, who must understand that sport needs to exist,' the former Montreal champion added.

Nadia Comaneci, who has lived for a long time in the United States of America, said she will be directly involved in organising the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

'I am glad that in a way I will be part of Los Angeles 2028, but Oklahoma too is hosting the Olympic Games. And I am lucky that we live in both places. I have already begun collaborating with those in Oklahoma and those in Los Angeles, with the athletes' commission. There is very little time left, only two years, and we want to do something spectacular together with Romania House,' Comaneci added.

Regarding Romania's national football team, she said that she is waiting for the 'Tricolor' squad in the United States at the World Cup and that she is glad there is a chance for Gheorghe Hagi to take over as head coach of the national team.

'I wish them success and hope to see them in the United States at the World Cup, because I am waiting for them. Hagi is an extremely hard-working man, he knows exactly what he has to do. I respect him as a person, he is an inspiration, just like Simona Halep and Ilie Nastase and all the others who have done something for Romanian sport,' Comaneci went on to say.

On her visit to Brussels, Nadia Comaneci was accompanied by president of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee Mihai Covaliu, and former great Romanian athletes such as Ana-Maria Branza, Andreea Raducan, Catalina Ponor, Simona Amanar, Marius Urzica, Laura Badea, Constantina Dita and Marian Dragulescu, as well as by a group of young gymnasts from the Onesti Municipal Sports Club.

MEP Vasile Dincu said that Tuesday was 'Romania's golden day' in the European Parliament and that Nadia Comaneci is doing real politics for sport.

'It is an emotional event and a great joy that we can bring Romanian exceptionalism to the European Parliament, with so many Olympic champions, with a combined 40 gold medals among them. It was truly a happy day for us Romanians, and we are proud, because we are not always on the agenda of the European Parliament or Europe with positive things. I think this is our golden day, so to speak. We are glad because Nadia is not only a great athlete; we know very well what she does worldwide for the Olympic movement in general, and the way she articulates her entire activity is truly political. She is doing real politics for sport,' Dincu declared.

On Monday, Nadia Comaneci also had a meeting in Brussels with President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, whom she offered the book 'Letters to a Young Gymnast', a signed T-shirt and a scarf with Romanian symbols.

On July 10, 2025, President Nicusor Dan signed the decree promulgating the law establishing 2026 as the 'Nadia Comaneci Year', to mark the 50th anniversary of the legendary achievements of the Romanian gymnast at the 21st edition of the Summer Olympic Games held in 1976 in Montreal, the first perfect 10 in world gymnastics. As part of this project, several events will be organised throughout 2026, coordinated by the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee.

'On the occasion of the celebration of the 'Nadia Comaneci Year' - a legend of national and world sport, central and local public authorities, sports institutions in the country, as well as minority organizations may organise sports, educational and artistic events,' the law states.

At the same time, Parliament, the Presidential Administration, the Government, local public authorities and public institutions under their authority or coordination may allocate funds from their budgets or from other legally obtained sources to organise or support logistically and/or financially the sports, cultural, artistic, educational events or promotional programs within the approved budgets.

The 21st Summer Olympics went down in history as the Nadia Comaneci Olympics, forever associated with perfection in artistic gymnastics. At just 14, Comaneci stunned the world by scoring a perfect 10 on uneven bars - a score so unprecedented that the electronic scoreboard could not display it. She went on to achieve seven perfect 10s in a single Olympic competition, winning three gold medals (all-around, beam, uneven bars), one silver (team) and one bronze (floor). AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Adrian Tone; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)