1981 World Gymnastics Championships Nadia Comaneci interview

[shanzigal]

She wasn't even able to freely speak in this interview...after Bela defected, she was under the watchful eye of the Romanian government.

[778denver]

Those of you complaining about her English are morons!!!!!!! She was speaking very well for someone in a communist country, she also speaks French, and I might add. In Romania at the time Russian was encouraged, French was ok, and English was not really exceptable. I bet each one of you complaining only speak one language. Nadia was the best EVER.

[Hothschild]

If you guys are laughing at her, because her english, you've should see me talking english... Believe me It sux :/

[bms5001]

she is amazing beyond words, end of story.

[picaridin1]

She looked and sounded miserable.

[martpast1]

@picaridin1 u wrote stupid--no wonder for american. u think ---u look better?

[pianochik96]

Nadia te iubesc! :D

[MiFlorDeCerezo]

traduzcan!!!

[dragongirl1980]

she looks sad and angry

[EFFROSDR2]

My idol of my youth.

[rd062080]

Kurt Thomas is an idiot

Nadia was the best

[GymFloozie]

@rd062080 Man, I second that. He had no business trying to do an interview with her. And Nadia will never be equaled.

[ritter89]

Whatever happened to that first broadcaster? He was a regular during the late 70s and 80s

[KillaKitty09]

She looks pissed off :(

Why did Bela leave Romania anyway?

[tetecruzcolin]

@KillaKitty09

remember that Rumania was socialist system, and America offered him better things and oportunities, also he will be the american team gymnastic couch 

[starlight76able]

Body language accounts in a lot of ways of how a person conducts themselves. Rmember in this 1981 interview Nadia Comeneci was still living in Romania when it was still under Ceucescu, and you can tell how conerned she was about saying anything of a detrimental nature. The interviewer should have been a bit more vigilant and more selective in his form of questioning.

[TheodoraCarolina]

Great girl.

[Gracetx90]

Rude. The interviewer. Not Nadia.

[Sarahisthebombest]

how was he rude?

[foneill9]

@Gracetx90 I wouldn't say rude but definitely dumb; many Americans here didn't understand what kind of danger she was in just doing this interview. The hesitation isn't because her English was bad {it's very good} but because she had to be extremely careful with what she said. I actually think she was being very brave here. You can tell she wanted to say more. The interviewer should have understood this when she didn't answer questions directly, and made it easier for her.

[sexygal17]

that was awesome. Like a time machine linked directly to ninjas. FIVESTAR xoStephy :P

[cam2540]

awkward...

[rulfohn]

sad....

[BlackSharpies]

she seems really annoyed in this interview.

[Ianpbx]

The stupid interviewer kept on pushing her about Karoli when she clearly was uneasy about it. It was obviously difficult because she thought highly of Karoli but didn't want to get into trouble back in Romania. That idiot of an interviewer should have realised that.

[Ianpbx]

She was. The stupid commentator should have realised that she could have got into trouble in Romania for saying the wrong thing, so should not have kept pushing it.

[lostlyrarose]

I think the government at the time made her say that she didn't get along with Bela. But I don't think that's true.

[ralucagymnast]

Those of you who say her english language is poor, I ask you this: how is your Romanian language?? Nadia was fluent in Romanian, French and English, but for interviews she was given a script of standard answers, and not allowed to deviate from those answers. So what you are hearing here is her remembering what she had been told to say. Just imagine that!!

[metsdudenj]

I have to be honest with you, I do not think she was answering with scripted answers. She paused a bit and had trouble understanding a few of the questions and said it was a blow to Rumania to lose Karolyi. I dont think Rumania's govt would have let her say that. this was a very candid interview from her. I would also say she could have easily made the Rumanian team for LA but I guess she had weight and growth issues.

[ironmaniatiko]

lol man are you insane? oO, i'm sure you can't find out if she spoke a good French or Romanian because you can't speak other language than English, i don't say that english language is poor, but at least is MUCH more easy than any other language.

Look:

Yo habl(o) Je parl(e) I speak

tu habl(as) tu parl(es) you speak

El habl(a) il parl(e) he speak(s)

yo habl(é), j'ai parl(é) i, you she spoke

tu hablaste, il a parlé

el hablo tu as parlé

dont you see how EASY is that?

[gymnasticsloverxoxo]

What do they mean the scores she received at the 1980 Olympics? She admitted Davydova had a better day then her in the all around, so clearly it wasn't, then what was it?

[grifffinity]

In 1980 there was a 20 minute delay to calculate the score after Nadia's beam routine in the AA. Bela believed that the judges were fixing the marks so only a Soviet would win. Essentially, it was the stance of the Romanian government was that Nadia would have been the AA winner of the 80 games if the Soviets hadn't fixed the marks. True or not, this was their position. Nadia, of course, had to go along with this position in interviews - she could not defy her government.

[spiceyhotbj]

This is sad... its really hard to watch.

[Paraiah]

His arm around her looked at tad creepy.

[lincy1983]

She looks a little pissed off here! LOL

[morenodelaorilla]

Did Nadia study in US, what did she major in?

[marieked]

No, she defected from Romania in 1989. She started out by living in Montreal, Canada then went to NYC then OK.

[ChildofPluto]

I'm really surpised at this interview in those times. The interviewer probably didn't know that she wasn't allowed to say anything nice about Bela or Moscow Olympics. I cannot believe the questions he's asking her and yet she manages to give some answers. In English! at a time when Russian was mostly taught in schools.

[Tereshenko]

The interviewer was Kurt Thomas, so he knew what he was doing.

Nadia studied at the University of Bucharest in Physical Ed. I think anyway...

[princealbert2007]

which 'most schools'?

russian wasn't taught in romania at tha time.

[ralucagymnast]

No, in Romanian schools pupils were taught Romanian(obviously!), French and English. Ceausescu wouldnt dream of having Russian taught in schools; they were very much anti-Soviet. Romania was strange, in that it was a Socialist country, but definitely NOT under the thumb of the Soviet Union, and this annoyed the 'Soviets. Romania was the "rebellious" socialist state:)

[Ianpbx]

And Romania became the worst of the 'Socialist states' states. That's why Ceaucescu and his wife got less than they deserved in the end.

[hannahwig]

Does anyone know what she studied while she was at University?

[gymgirly1]

SHE LOOCKED SO SAD

[DCHblog]

Sure, she and the hosted, look sooooooo boring.

[glenndelossantos15]

she looked like a stuck up there. but don't get me wrong, i love her...............

[strawberryrainbow]

She should have continues to competed regardless if she had oposition. She should have been in the L.A Olympics.

[davlor86]

Nadia Comaneci was like some kind of Prodigy girl for gymnastics, she was unbelivable.

[Matrix5060]

Nadia USA loves you!!!

[MieluChitaristu]

Those of you lamenting about her (supposedly) bad english, please bear in mind that she grew up in an environment where learning & speaking english wasn't strongly encouraged. Also, training and travelling as much as she did meant less time to study than you and I had. I think she understand most of it anyway. Our of curiosity I searched for interviews in english with Nellie Kim and Olga Korbut (before defecting to US), and I found nil :D Nadia had at least 2-3 from that period ;)

[Thefface]

lmao calm down, her english is not that bad and not perfect, but not worth sluting over!!

[MieluChitaristu]

Huh? I was merely asking those Einsteins who majored in English at the Stanford University to chill out a bit, that's all!

[SalieriFoe]

@MieluChitaristu In addition to that, learning a language becomes increasingly difficult the later you begin to learn it. There's a period in youth where children can absorb languages like a sponge. If she didn't start working on English until after she became famous at 14, then it's more challenging. AND, the interviewer said stuff like "how come" instead of "why aren't". Goober, people don't learn bad English when they're trying to learn English...

[ObsessedWithPassions]

@MieluChitaristu Not to mention that English is a difficult language to learn. Even if you've studied it for years, it's very odd to get used to how English speakers (especially Americans) speak. We have so many slang terms, homonyms, homophones, words based on a gazillion other languages, etc. etc... Adding all that to the fact that most of us aren't even grammatically correct half the time makes English one of the most difficult languages out there. I feel sorry for foreigners :(

[GlidingArt99]

@ObsessedWithPassions I have to be honest, I find my own language harder than english. I even find german harder than english...:)(ok, I'm not a real pro in any of them except my own, but still. English has few rules, you can learn to speak...intuitively. Its not so with german I think.) I might be wrong though.

[titanramfan]

@GlidingArt99 English has its own pitfalls. Since we have stripped it of gender, case, and most verb conjugations, word order and inflection are of utmost importance. Prepositions are always a bear to learn in any language, and mistakes in English can be rendered as quite comical. (After we skate, we go eat your house?...Uh, no. I hope not! But we can eat AT my house.) I would say English, however, is a forgiving language. When you blow it, people generally still understand the intent!

[MieluChitaristu]

One of the saddest things is the waste of human potential. It's not that Nadia didn't give everything to the world, she did! But she should have been allowed to participate in any event she wanted to, instead of being used as a political tool by an inept dictator. The sadness in her eyes tells more that she was allowed to say, even to a foreign journalist. Knowing certain realities of the era, I'm even surprised she was allowed to give an interview in English without "comrades" being present.

[aliosch]

just have a look at her 1983 interview. She looks so sad, I was on the verge of tears when watching this. She should have had a real painful time in Romania throughout these years. Much harder than communism was the dictature of the Ceauscescus.

[ChildofPluto]

Ideed, I know that interview (83 or 84), it's painful to watch. I couldn't be happier for her today, she looks good, healthy and happy with her family!

[rudolf69mike]

yeah,why wasn`t there a translator ? ha? she didn`t have to speak english unless she wanted

[u01vfc8]

Proud to be Romanian...Brabo Nadia, te iubim mereu!

[bshwlknwckr]

Only, if the Yankees understood that in the interview...

[DORU026]

o mare  romanca...esti minunata

[romanianishadow]

u shut the hell up and take a look at ur country (fuck america!!!). america is not democratic, its comunist! i lived in the comunism. it was exactly like it is now in america!

[BondGirl29]

they don't see it, man.

they can't.

[ninjachild5]

I love the way they used to say gymnasts back then. In stead of how we say it like gymnist they really said it how it looked.. gymNAST!

[magicprincess7]

why didn`t he bring a translator with him ? or instead of speak english to her he could at least respect other cultures and speak a bit of romenian

[iriniionescu]

Americans...unable to read between lines, just willing people to talk their "american english". Unable to understand and accept things as they are. Hopefully, his interviewing skills are improved or...done!

[sprinklefriend]

the language barrier may have contributed to this, but i think she was mostly watching her tongue because of the government. apparently they used & controlled her, and i'm sure she was scared. i was kidnapped - different, but still the same as far as knowing that if you say what they want you to, it'll be better than if you fight back.

[charlottejohanson]

OMG u were kidnapped?

[lisasimps]

:| you were kidnapped?! wtf?! :|

OMG!

[bacardibreezer7]

Ok - you have to elaborate on the kidnapping thing. Spill.

[CoCC4America]

Those Communist Romanians were pitiless.

[cyberJamilonc]

Watch what u say, say it if u know what ur talking. Why do u talk about Romanians being communists, did they ask for it? Or was it daunted upon then by force till 89? Did u ever know Romanians? Why do u speak when u don't know? Seriously now. I know u feel free on you tube but think before u type something senseless.

[TheEveryThink]

ye...ye,something...maybe

she's very communicate, huh?

kkkk

[Liamsmom617]

It's amazing to see how much happier she is these days. I remember her being quoted, at the 1979 World Championships in Fort Worth, when asked why she didn't smile much, "I have nothing to smile about." What a miserable life. I have loved Nadia since 1976 and it is really wonderful to see what a happy, bubbly person she is now.

[a12117]

i read in the papers a few months ago her revelations about bullying, rape and some other hideous think she had suffered from her coach and even chiaushescu's son.

so... indeed not much "to smile about". Plus extremely hard work they put those little girls through.

Just think that behind what she put on public, might be something even worse than this.

She will remain a hero for many generations.

Cheers to her, cheers!

[Enma12Ai]

Of course she dind't spoke english good

at that time in Romain the childrens don't learn english

[blueforare]

Well, I think she managed it really well, the English I mean. She's seems to be a very honest person in this interview.

[tomsk14]

Yeah definitely....She did great....

[due70]

i think she was uncomfortable cuz she couldnt speak very good english back then, so she couldnt express herself very well

[dariagym]

here she looks like a boy. But when she was little she was really cute!

[ineedsomepoison]

What u're saying is completly pathetic, she is a person not a toy that when is new and cute u like it and when it comes old (she's not old in this interwiew,she had anorexia so that makes her look sick) u just leave it 4 a new toy, that was what romanian coachers did with girls, like nadia...

[BondGirl29]

Nadia was never anorexic.

She always looked healthy.

[anivyl]

actually, she admitted to having eating disorders due to her feeling to "big" for the equipment.

[shafinal]

We must remember Nadia was under the thumb of the Ceaucescus and the Roumanian gymnastics federation at the time.Newspapers here in the States said Nadia didn't compete due to inadequate training.When Nadia came to live here she could be much more honest about her life and career,for example,she said Davydova deserved her gold in 1980.Obvious when you see the 12 routines by both but something the RGF wouldn't let her say back then.

[neato1601994]

she was told wat to do but if u type in nadia trainig , u will find that wen she was like 30 she was with coaches that had tot her soo they could not have been to abusivee ..

[MaggotDomination]

abusive coaches???....lol she had briliant coaches...probably some of the best in the world at the time...

[8122556]

I wish I had a couch like Bella,but he was an ass!

[trashywilma]

Nadia is a woman who went thru a lot of suffering. Hopefully now, in the US and away from abusive coaches, she can recover.

[GymnasticsIsLove13]

They werent abusive.She is still in touch with themYou should read her autobiography.

[octa79]

oh, come on. she understands perfectly. It's more like "I'm very pissed off because of moscow, but I don't wanna complain overtly". It has less to do with communist regime than with what is teached to be good behavior.

[midnightparade]

wow~ she really didnt want 2 b there. she looked so uncomfortable -PLUS- the way he had his arm around the chair looked like he was really invading her privacy. aww poor girl!

[SOiser]

Under the communist regime she can't tell the whole thruth

[GymnasticsIsLove13]

Exactly.She grew up in a country where she was told what to do,say,think, and do.

[artgalgenius]

Nadia looks like she is guarding her answers and her eyes are flickering a bit as if she is watching for the secret police.

[gymnst12432]

how old is she iight therE?

[nmba28]

when she won in 1979, she was 14... so she's about 15 or 16.

[ineedsomepoison]

When she won in 1976 she was 14 with 7 gold medals, in 1979 she was 17, so in this interwiew she have like 19 xD

[nmba28]

when she won in 1976, she was 14... so she's about 18 or 19

[Princessportent]

She was 19 here.

[adistarhj]

She was 19 years old here. (because she was 14 in the 1976 Olympics)

[jonesy200959]

She looks sad, look at her eyes, who knows what goes on behind closed doors, especially in the gynastics scean back then.

[FlamingAnus]

i definately agree that she doesn't wanna be interveiwed.

[juicysundaycat]

she understand perfectly, she just doesn't want to answer to stupid questions

[oXwillowXo]

i think she doesnt understand hahahha

[btlidia]

I mean she didn't know what is allowd to answer, it was in comunist time!

[whipback]

It seems like to me that she really didn't want to be interviewed. Do any of you feel the same?

[floettree]

yeah i agree! either that or she cant understand english very well..

[rebeccaarman]

rare interview.Thanks

[ilextree]

Great find!