lair. Flexibility. Technical Skill. Grace. Timing. After and Nadia Comaneci bothwon gold medals at the 1976 American Cup for displaying all of the above qualities in judge-awing abundance, theymet forthe firsttime. For apublicity shot, he, 18, kissed her, 14, then powerfully vaulted his own way as she gracefully leapt hers. Twenty years andmany gold medals later, he, 38, kissed her, 34, once again at the end oftheirfairy-tale weddingin Bucharest, , and the beginning oftheir married life in Norman, America. These two champions-in both senses ofthat word-are still scoring perfect 10s in all the areas listed above, albeit with a few new twists.

Her white dress by renowned Japanese designer Yumi Katsura glowed with 10,000 hand-beaded pearls and flowed with a 23-foot trainthat required six budding Romanian gymnasts to carry it. His impeccable white tie and tails set offhis blonde good looks, makingthe perfect foil forher darkbeauty. They wore bejeweled coronets ofgold and stepped from the church to be greeted bythousands ofadoring, cheering subjects. This royal couple, listed not inBurke's Peerage butin the record books ofcountless gymnastics events, were the hero and heroine of a national event. Their three-day extravaganza ofa wedding included a civil ceremony in the elegant Military Center's Marble Hall, a Romanian Christian Orthodox ceremony at Bucharest's Casin Church, parties and dinners too numerous to list, the complete attention ofan entire Eastern European country and-gasp-even favorable coverage by the American tabloid press.

A glittering international wedding joins Sooner gymnastic The Golden BY KATHRYN JENSON WHITE

26 SOONERMAGAZINE

The world's most famous gym- nastics couple, Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner, leave the sumptuous baroque hall of the Romanian Army's Military Center in Bucharest following the first of their two marriage ceremonies.

treat Bart Conner and Olympic immortal Nadia Comaneci. Couple

1996 SUMMER 27

Nadia, famous enough around the onships, with Bart winning the 1978 mother in the religious ceremony (this world to be known by just that one NCAA all-around and later two Olym- is, after all, a fairy tale of sorts) were name, returned to her homeland in pic gold medals . This duo was dy- Adrian Nastase, executive president April 1996 for only the second time namic. of the governing Social Democracy since her much-publicized Rediscovering the determination Party and no relation to Ilie, and his in 1989 . She came as the well-toned and strength that had helped earn her wife, Dana . princess bride-to-be on the well- the first in an Olympics muscled arm ofher handsome prince. gymnastics competition and to win .~ibllit~r For her, life was once again good . five Olympic golds, Nadia re-formed l~ The first few years following Nadia's herselfwith Bart's help . Their profes- Although Bart and Nadia work out arrival in the United States had been sional collaboration beganin 1991 and daily and have a fairly demanding difficult ones, years during which she blossomed into a personal one . He performance schedule, the muscles ceased performing and found herself asked her to marry him in 1994 . they use most today are those above without roots or connections . Bart and Nadia visited Bucharest the neck . "I had been living in Montreal for a together that same year, five years to "As a former gymnast, my work is, year and a halfwhen Bart asked me to the day from her defection . They en- essentially, me," Bart says . "Nadia's perform with him," she says . "It was tered the country on that first trip work is Nadia . We perform, speak, do very hard to get back into shape . I with some trepidation . promotions, make appearances and thought, `Why am I doing this?' I "I didn't know if the people would give endorsements . That's how we hadn't done gymnastics for six or seven congratulate me on having the cour- make our livings." years because it didn't make sense to age to leave and make a life for myself Following this career path is cer- continue . When you finished compet- or say, `Oh, you left when it was the tainly no easier than training for

The marriage of their national heroine, Nadia Comaneci, to former Sooner gymnastics star Bart Conner was the biggest event Romanians hadseen since the 1989 revolution. After acivilceremony, Bart and Nadia appeared on the balcony of the Military Center to greet the waiting crowd. The newlyweds make their home in Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.A.

ing, you retired . There was no place to hardest time for us,'" she says . "I world-class competition in their go with it then . I did what I did and couldn't believe it. The people gave sport-and it may be even more diffi- learned what I learned, and then the me so much credit . Forget about the cult . Bart and Nadia's electronic ap- sport ofgymnastics was over for me. I gymnastics career ; they already knew pointment calendar almost blew a fuse planned to go on with my life in other about that . Theyjust received us with as he scrolled through the couple's ways because I could never go back unbelievable honor. There was a lot of recent travel history. and be that me again. Then Bart and crying and everything . Bart said we "The way we deal with this crazy Paul came along." had to get married in Bucharest ." schedule is to look only forward," he Paul Ziert, former OU gymnastics So, in April, they did just that . says . "Someone said to me recently, coach and Bart's manager, certainly Their wedding was featured in every `So, you guys were 'in Phoenix the understood Nadia's attitude, but he magazine from Sports Illustrated to other day,' and I said, `Oh, really? We wanted to change it. He and Bart People . Former tennis great Ilie were?' This year has been incredibly were working on the possibility of an Nastase, then a candidate for mayor intense because all the major Olympic extended professional life for gym- of Bucharest, attended, along with sponsors-Coca-Cola, Xerox, Visa, nasts, and they wanted Nadia to be a most of Romania's political and cul- John Hancock-are doing Olympic- part of their plan . In 1977 and 1978, tural elite and 72 of Bart and Nadia's related promotions . Bart and Paul had led the OU men's American family and friends . Acting "June 1, Nadia had a Swatch watch gymnastics team to national champi- as the couple's godfather and god- promotion, so we both went to Chicago

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and New York for that . Then we ran a couple of years now . This year's anyway . A couple ofyears ago, Nadia the Olympic torch in Salt Lake. We tight scheduling has been unbeliev- landed, blew her knee out and had to taped the "Oprah" show, then went to able, but I know what agreat opportu- have reconstruction . We're trying to Bentonville, Arkansas, for a Wal-Mart nity it is for me to be in this situation . present ourselves more artistically shareholders meeting . We flew to Now I'm gaining from what I did 20 now . We bring in the young Roma- Columbus for Coke, to Washington, years ago as a child. nians and Russians and let them do D.C., and Boston for Swatch, to De- the really hard stuff." "A lot of people ask me if I realized troit for Coke . Then Nadia headed to then what a big impact my perfect 10s This "gymnastics capades" concept Atlanta for Danskin, and I went to had. My answer is no. I was thinking has gotten bigger and better each year Europe to be the commentator on a just ofwhat I had to do . I didn'trealize since 1992, with Nadia and Bart doing gymnastics show for ABC's "Wide that I was unique ; a 14-year-old doesn't music- and effects-filled numbers like World of Sports ." We both went to think about carving out a place in "Goin' to the Chapel" and songs from New York again for Swatch, then to history . My world was a small one . I "Grease ." Huge audiences in sports San Diego for Sea World, then to Bos- didn't realize what the Olympics arenas are treated to entertainment ton for the Olympic Trials. We're meant to the whole and technical virtuosity for the price headed back to Boston day world." after to- ofone ticket . They eat it up . A tape of morrow to attend Eunice Kennedy She realizes it now, of course, and one event shows Nadia and Bart cos- Shriver's birthday party at the she also realizes that what she and tumed beautifully and in a physical Kennedy compound-I've been on the Bart are doing together is not only dialogue, she on the beam and he on board ofthe Special Olympics for about sound business for them as individu- the . Thrusting them- 10 years-then to Detroit for Coke als but also an important contribution selves through space in their individ- and Pennsylvania for a York Com- to the futures of those gymnasts who ual areas of the stage, they are always pany picnic. Then it's to ESPN to do a will come after them . moving toward the inevitable finale : voice-over for a television show and to the moment when she leaps gracefully Raleigh, North Carolina, to shoot a into his strong arms while the spot- Special Olympics video. `ccrmc~-l CQ3lall light illuminates their love for each "That takes us to the 12th of July . Conner, Comaneci and Ziert, who other and their sport. The audience

We're home for four days, then we go now serves as theirmanager and busi- roars its approval as the piece ends . to Atlanta on July 17 and stay until ness partner, are working on a plan to "We hope to create some longevity the Olympics end August 5 ." allow gymnasts to extend their in- for gymnasts," he explains . "The prob- volvement in their sport after the Bart says that forhim, adjusting to lem with our sport is you spend all early-life competitions are over . all the corporate schmoozing and fuss- these years developing this ability, ing over the couple is fairly easy . For "Performing is still the most inter- then there's nowhere to go with it. Nadia, it is a little tougher, given her esting to us," Bart says . "It's what we That, to me, is a crime. Writers study different background . really do. We're trying to do for gym- to be writers and then can write as nastics what people have done for fig- long as someone hires them . You "Because she is from a socialist ure skating . We want it to become study to be a gymnast, and there's no system in which everything was done entertainment with lighting, cos- place to work . The only option is to by the government, there are no cor- tumes, choreography and big produc- coach, and, if you're very lucky, own porate schmooze-fests," he explains . tion values . your own gym . Those activities pro- "Their system is very different, so it "We're pioneers here, breaking vide fairly modest livings. was funny for Nadia at the beginning. ground . We want to leave a legacy . "Eighty years ago the lee Follies We're hired, for example, to just go Paul, the producer of the professional started . Those skaters knew how to do have dinner and talk to people at a tour we do, is the creative force behind it. In the last few years, skating has company . It's a weird way to make a it. He brings in dancers from L.A. and produced some superstars who do very living in some ways. At first, Nadia invests in it. We don't just do an well earning theirlivings as skaters. I would say, `Now what are we sup- exhibition ; we do a show. want that for gymnasts." posed to do?T 'Just talk to the people,' "Nadia and I have watered down a To show I would tell her . `Talk about what?' others that such a concept she would ask. `Whatever they want lot ofour stuff so we aren't working at is viable, as well as to perform them- to talk about,' I would answer." the same level of difficulty we once selves, Bart and Nadia will leave in were. We don't have the time to com- September for a 48-city gymnastics Nadia explains : "Being on the road mit to the level oftraining that takes. tour in 11 countries . They will per- was new to me. I've just been doing it At our ages, it wouldn't be smart, form in India, France, Brazil, Mexico,

1996 SUMMER 29

Switzerland, Germany, Spain, England and Canada . They 1-jmn- will be on the road until De- Deliveries by mail are not cember. the only sort in which Bart and Nadia are interested . "We're going to perform for another year or two ; then we'll Bart wants not only a be all shot and have to stay at longer mat life for gymnasts, home more. I'm 38, and I'm but also a lot ofthings for a lot not sure how much longer I ofother people . He and Nadia can do this," he says with a devote a significant portion of grin . "Then, we're going to theirvery full livesto the needs want to have kids . "Essentially, our work is ofothers . He worries that the A couple's constant travel has away from here now. This is kept the two of them from be- The glittering Romanian Christian Orthodox wedding our base, but we don't make coming fully involved mem- ceremony took on fairy-tale proportions as Olympians our living doing any of this. bers of the Norman commu- Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci repeat their vows. Eventually, we'll grow this nity but takes comfort in the Flanking the couple are Adrian Nastase, left, head of business enough to make our positive service his 1,000-stu- the ruling Social Democracy Party, who acted as best living here, though." dent, 32-teacher gym-The man and Orthodox `godfather" for the marriage, and To house the growing num- Bart Conner Gymnastics his wife, Dana, right. ber and size ofits various gym- Academy-performs . nastics-related endeavors, To ensure that gifted chil- Paul Ziert and Associates has dren who want to study gymnastics Hall of Fame collection, to be housed just completed next to the gym a large but may not be ableto afford the train- temporarily in donated space down- building containing offices, the maga- ing costs have options, Bart andNadia town. As soon as money for a perma- zine production studio and a ware- have teamed with 's nent building is available, Oklahoma house, from which a newly formed T- Lou Kerr to sponsor an annual Bart City will be the heart of gymnastics in shirt business will operate . ConnerGolf Tournament, with former the United States . Bart looks around at what his ath- Olympians like Dan Jansen and Bruce Bart and Nadia also have daily letic skill has earned him with satis- Jenner playing. Last year's event, duties as part of the responsibilities faction and pride. That look turns to sponsored by JohnHancock Insurance, that come with fame and being role love as his eyes light on Nadia. earned more than $60,000 to be used models . Bart has a large cardboard "I had been doing this for a long for gymnastics scholarships for un- box half full of fan letters to be an- time, and then Nadia came into my der-served children . Only one ofthose swered . life five years ago," he says. "Our six scholarships is beingused at Bart's "This is the pile I have to do," he worlds ran together very nicely. It's a gym . says, reaching down to grab a double different life, and not one for every- Long before the tournament came handful and letting it sift back to the body . Sometimes it's great, and some- to pass, Bart had created the non- larger heap slowly . "Nadia is way times it's awful. We're lucky because profit Bart Conner Education Pro- better than I am. We both do it all we can be together most of the time . grams. This organization had two ourselves, which is why I am so far Most of our work is together . Part of short-term goals: to do good things for behind . Nadia isjust so diligent . She's the stress of travel is leaving people young Oklahoma gymnasts, such as always getting letters from people say- you love behind . With the two of us bringing in talented gymnastics ing, `Thank you for sending me the together, we don't have to deal with coaches from other places, and to pro- autographed photograph . I never that." vide scholarships . The tournament, heard from Bart .' One thing I'm really The prince and princess ofgymnas- sponsored this year by Coca-Cola and conscientious about is requests for tics do seem to be living a fairy tale . planned for September 30 at Oak Tree charity auction items. We sign hats Just to keep things in perspective Golf Course, helps provide the funds and T-shirts and send out three or though, they tell the storyofthe writer necessary in realizing both goals. four items each day." from People magazine who came to The long-term goal ofthe organiza- Nadia adds, "You know, I think the Norman to do a follow-up on the wed- tion is to build the International Gym- word got out about you because now I ding. nastics Hall of Fame in Oklahoma get more letters than you do ." "The reporter asked us what we City. The former publisher of Inter- "The more you answer, the more did," Bart says . "I said, `We come national Gymnast magazine, which you get . I guarantee that," Bart tells home, we wash our clothes, we pack Ziert purchased and moved to her. and we go again.' She said that was Norman from California last year, "I think they do know," she says the picture she wanted, so she took was also the owner of the largest with a laugh. "I picked up a bunch a shot of us folding clothes in our collection ofgymnastics archives and three hours ago, then, when I came laundry room . That's the reality of memorabilia in the world, Bart says . back to talk for the magazine I find it." That collection is coming to Okla- another big bunch. Are they making That's the fairy story of it. That's homa in September as the core of the special deliveries?" the glory ofit. That's a perfect 10.

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