Mixed Reception
The 28-year-old woman who arrived in America in 1989 bore little resemblance to the teenage sensation who had captivated the world during the 1976 Montréal Olympics 13 years prior. She had undergone significant changes since her time touring the United States in 1981. Moreover, rumors circulated about a romantic involvement between Comăneci and Constantin Panait, a married man who had played a crucial role in her escape from Romania.
As a result, Comăneci did not receive the hero’s welcome that might have been expected, and her arrival in America was met with mixed feelings. Panait’s overprotective actions further complicated her situation. Béla Károlyi, her former coach, and Bart Conner, the young American gymnast she had kissed on the podium in Madison Square Garden, attempted to reach out to Comăneci. Still, Panait intercepted their messages, creating additional tensions in her life.
