The great gymnast Nadia Comaneci was decorated, on Saturday, by President Nicusor Dan, with the National Order of the Star of Romania in the rank of Grand Cross.

The President said, before the decoration, that currently, the word 'exceptional' is perceived differently.

'If we look at the news, yesterday we see that 100 exceptional things happened. We have lost a sense of proportion in language,' Nicusor Dan pointed out.

In his speech, the head of state emphasized the exceptional nature of the performances achieved by the great champion.

'You have done something exceptional. If the world, after 50 years, remembers, if many little girls in the world want to be Nadia Comaneci, it means that what you have done is truly exceptional,' said Nicusor Dan.

The President highlighted that Nadia Comaneci's career showed that it is not enough to have talent, and currently society is looking for quick gratifications, like 'becoming an Olympic champion in 100 clicks.' Nicusor Dan stated that a lot of work is needed for results that matter.

'You were not brought down by this glory, you remained a living person, who promotes gymnastics, sports, with all the values associated with sports - work, fair play, teamwork,' said the head of state.

Nadia Comaneci, for her part, recalled her beginnings as 'a six-year-old girl who discovered her passion in the gym,' shy but courageous. She said she wanted the 'Year of Nadia Comaneci' to teach children how to find their passion, and said that sport was a 'door' for her, through which she met her husband.

'Sport connects us all, sport speaks the same language,' the great champion emphasized.

The distinction was offered to her at the proposal of the president of the National Agency for Sports, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, 'as a sign of high gratitude, appreciation and pride for the dedication and exceptional professionalism with which he contributed to consolidating the Olympic prestige of our country, forever redefining the limits of human excellence and inscribing his name in the sporting and identity heritage of Romania'.

Before the decoration, archive images were broadcast with moments from the sports competitions in which the great gymnast participated, including the historic moment at the Montreal Olympics, when she received a score of 10.00, but the scoreboard displayed '1.00' instead of 10.00, because at that time this score was a premiere.

Also, after the decoration, Nadia Comaneci signed archive photographs exhibited in the lobby of the Union Hall at Cotroceni.

In July last year, the head of state signed the decree according to which 2026 was named 'Nadia Comaneci Year'.

In this regard, the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee was designated as the coordinating institution for all activities carried out during 2026, which will develop a calendar of sports and educational activities, transmitted to national authorities and diplomatic missions and Romanian representations operating on the territory of other states.AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Oana Ghita, editing by: Mihai Simionescu;EN - writing by: Catalin Cristian Trandafir)