Nadia Comaneci still hoping gymnastics will return to previous scoring technique and ... - Greenfield Daily Reporter

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LONDON — Nadia Comaneci is hoping gymnastics reverts to the old style of scoring and again give competitors a chance at the "perfect 10" that she made famous.

The Romanian great, who amassed nine Olympic medals including five golds, made history and provided one of the most enduring moments of the Olympics when she achieved the first perfect score at the 1976 Montreal Games at the age of 14.

Her performance on the uneven bars was too good for the scoreboards, which could not display a "10" because no one thought anyone could earn the mark.

Instead they put up "1.00."

"I didn't understand what that meant," Comaneci, 50, said Wednesday. "That's all they could show. I was a little frustrated at the beginning because I thought I did better than one."

In fact, her routine was perfect.

Competitors today don't have a chance at the perfect 10 because of a scoring system change six years ago — 30 years after Comaneci's groundbreaking moment.

At the Olympics in London, Comaneci said wants a return to the old style of scoring and says the International Gymnastics Federation should consider it.

"I think gymnastics was associated with a 10. I thought that belonged to the sport and somehow we gave it away," she said. "I think we lost a lot of fans.

"It's a little bit confusing for fans. I think probably they're going to find a way to bring back the 10."

Comaneci won three golds and a bronze at her famous debut in Montreal and two golds and two silvers in Moscow in 1980. She also won two world titles in a 10-year international career.

Moscow is always considered the Olympics where "she didn't do too well," she said, feigning surprise.

"Nobody talks too much about Moscow," Comaneci added. "It's funny because I get this all the time. 'You went to Moscow but didn't do too well.' And I say 'Two gold medals and two silvers I don't think is that bad.'"

Source : Nadia Comaneci still hoping gymnastics will return to previous scoring technique and ... - Greenfield Daily Reporter