Image via the Olympic Games on YouTube

Nadia Comaneci is one of the most recognizable names in the sport of gymnastics. She earned the first perfect 10 at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and captured the all-around, bars, and beam gold medals. Nearly every successful gymnast in the years following Comaneci lists her as one of their inspirations and idols. But who were Comaneci’s idols? In an interview with the Olympic Games, Comaneci shares the gymnasts she looked up to and admired as well as the current gymnasts she is impressed by. 
 

Growing up, Comaneci admired Ludmilla Tourischeva for her grace and style. Tourischeva represented the Soviet Union at the 1968, 1972, and 1976 Olympic Games. While there was little coverage back then, Comaneci remembers getting to watch some of the 1972 Munich games on TV where she especially impressed by Tourischeva's beautiful lines on floor. 

"She had beautiful lines. Everything that she did was technically correct." Comaneci said.

Comaneci got to compete against her idol Tourischeva at the 1976 Olympics where she also competed with gymnastics great Olga Korbut. 

 

Now, Comaneci looks for gymnasts with the balance between beauty and acrobatic skills and says her favorite gymnasts tend to have the same look. Aliya Mustafina, Simone Biles, and Larisa Iordache are a few of the gymnasts she admires. 

Watch the video on YouTube here.