Moscow Olympics
In 1980, at 18, Nadia Comăneci participated in her second Olympic Games in Moscow. The Soviet Union viewed the event as a platform to showcase the prowess of their “superior” athletes. However, they were determined not to leave anything to chance. Soldiers were strategically placed in the crowd, attempting to distract or demoralize competitors from other nations.
Comăneci, a celebrated gymnast, found herself as a target for these Russian hecklers who shouted “Fall, Nadia, fall!” during her routines. Despite the disruptive attempts, she managed to maintain her focus and put these distractions out of her mind. Her unwavering determination paid off as she clinched gold medals on the balance beam and the floor exercise, in addition to securing the all-around silver medal. Her exceptional performances contributed to Romania’s silver medal position in the competition. However, there was a dispute over the scoring.
