Nadia Comaneci

1976 saw the first American Cup Gymnastics competition at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Nadia won the title by a wide margin that still holds today for the American Cup. She received two scores of (vault and floor), and received a congratulatory kiss from the men’s title winner, and her future husband, American Bart Conner. Madison Square Garden, prizing itself as the most famous indoor arena in the world, saw greatness that day. But they would not realize it for four months.

She scored the first ever with her performance in the Compulsory Exercise on the uneven bars. Nadia posted six more tens to win three gold medals On July 18, 1976, in Montreal, Canada, at the Twenty-First Olympiad, Nadia cemented her place in gymnastic and Olympic history. She scored the first ever with her performance in the Compulsory Exercise on the uneven bars. Nadia posted six more tens to win three gold medals (including the all- around), one silver medal, and a bronze. She became "the most celebrated athlete at the games.”

To a whole generation around the world, she is the little girl who appeared from nowhere to defeat a gymnastics giant. She is the epitome of excellence, drive, and determination.