Quotes from Nadia Comaneci

See, when I went to the Olympics in '76, the gymnastics people knew that I was good, but everybody else, after I won, everybody was like, 'Where's she coming from? Who is she? What is Romania?'

I didn't realize that winning the Olympics at age 14 automatically put me in the category of being a celebrity.

I have had a few turning points, the first day I entered a gymnastics school at age 6.

Other kids had more talent, but I was the most focused.

The fans had become used to looking toward the scoreboard whenever a gymnast stuck a landing. You could tell they were thinking, 'Was that good enough? Would the numbers read 10.00?' The athlete was looking, too.

I couldn't do everything in the first or second day; it took me years to be able to get to the achievement that I've had. I wasn't perfect from the beginning.

What makes me happy is the appreciation of people around me.

People assume a lot of things about gymnasts - that the girls work too hard, it's way too much for them, they are too young to work so hard.

Every generation comes with a unique athlete, I don't think anybody wants to be the next Nadia; they want to be themselves.

I never personally complained; everybody else complained for me.

Jump off the beam, flip off the bars follows your dreams, and reach for the stars

My parents were very loving, but disciplinarians.

I believe that you should gravitate to people who are doing productive and positive things with their lives.

I worked hard in gymnastics since the time I was six years old until I retired at 23 years of age.

I don't run away from a challenge because I am afraid. Instead, I run toward it because the only way to escape fear is to trample it beneath your feet.

My marriage to my husband, Bart Conner in 1996 is my proudest personal moment.

We are not coaching on a daily basis because we often travel with our charity and commercial interests.

You should also appreciate the goodness around you, and surround yourself with positive people.

I believe that you should gravitate to people who are doing productive and positive things with their lives.

I don't run away from a challenge because I am afraid. Instead, I run towards it because the only way to escape fear is to trample it beneath your foot

Hard work has made it easy.That is my secret. That is why I win.

Romanians have a saying, 'Not every dog has a bagel on its tail.' It means that not all streets are paved with gold. When I began my career, I just wanted to do cartwheels.

Friend, no one ever accomplishes your dreams for you, regardless of tears, fits, or any other means of manipulation. They can give you ideas and direction, but in the end, you have to do it alone. You must figure out your own destination and the best route to get there because no one else knows the way.

It does not matter.