NADIA'S NEW LIFE A PERFECT 10

THE MIAMI HERALD
Wednesday, July 15, 1992
Section: SPORTS
Page: 1D

LINDA ROBERTSON Herald Sports Writer

Memo: See box at end of text NADIA COMANECI

The last time Nadia Comaneci came through South Florida, she was the subject of a scandal. She looked nothing like the petite pixie who had been a five-time Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics. She was depicted as a hardened home-wrecker.

"I was only here for three days in 1989, but it was a terrible time," Comaneci said. "I look at the pictures from then and I can't believe it's me."

Comaneci, 30, who has since shed 15 pounds and looks fit, has returned to the sport that made her famous and fallen in love. She was in South Florida Tuesday to promote Step Challenge '92, a 12-city aerobics competition that makes a stop at the Broward Mall July 24-26.

Instead of the stern look she had as a 14-year-old earning perfect 10s, or the calloused look of a 27-year-old defector, Comaneci is relaxed and funny, often letting out an infectious laugh. She and boyfriend Bart Conner joke and jab with boxer Vinny Pazienza and trainer Angelo Dundee at the Presidential Fitness Club in Hollywood.

"I think people misunderstood me," she said. "I couldn't find a real friend to help me back then, only someone to sell me. But that is all in the past."

Comaneci's defection from her native Romania went from heroic escape to what appeared to be a tawdry love affair when the man who had helped her cross the border said he was planning to leave his wife and children for Comaneci. It didn't help that when asked if she cared that Constantin Panait had a family, Comaneci replied, "So what?"

Comaneci said her relationship with Panait, a Hallandale roofer at the time, was inaccurately portrayed by the media and by Panait. Comaneci said Panait was looking to make money off the story. Panait's wife appeared on several talk shows.

"There was no romance," Comaneci said. "This was a guy who helped me defect, which I was desperate to do. Then he would charge for interviews with me. I remember we had dinner with Connie Chung, and she wanted me on her show, but Panait would not allow it without payment. The only people who would pay were the tabloids, and they were not giving credible reports.

"I was afraid of him. I could never defend myself because I never had a minute away from him. I didn't go to the police because in Romania the police are the bad guys. I think he and his wife were playing a game. He was sending her money."

Comaneci said she thinks Panait is back in Romania now. After three months with him, the penniless Comaneci got out of the situation thanks to Alexandru Stefu, a former Romanian rugby coach who helped her start over in Montreal, where she lives today.

She also got help from Olympic gold medalist Conner.

"I remember thinking, 'She looks awful; this isn't the girl we knew,' " Conner said. "I felt bad about all the stuff that was happening to her. She was unfortunate to hook up with people who took advantage of her, coming to a new society with nothing. I wanted to get her back into gymnastics, get her back into shape, get her confidence back."

Conner, 34, and Comaneci are now partners -- in various business pursuits and in personal life. Comaneci is planning to move part-time to Norman, Okla., where Conner runs a gym.

They both model for Jockey underwear. ("Do you know how much Jockey underwear we have?" Conner said.) They do gymnastics exhibitions around the country. And they're going to the Olympics as guests of the 3M Corporation. While in Barcelona, they will entertain 3M guests on a boat with a balance beam and pommel horse routine.

"I'm hoping the boat will not rock so much," Comaneci said.

Comaneci and Conner first met in 1976.

"After cutting through her outer shell of distrust, I found a very warm, charming person," Conner said.

Conner also helped Comaneci rediscover gymnastics. For six years in Romania, she had followed the norm in her country and avoided all exercise.

"I have to send the Romanians some steps for aerobics," Comaneci said. "But they don't know what they are."

* Who: Nadia Comaneci.

* Background: Won nine medals -- five golds, three silvers and one bronze -- as a Romanian gymnast at the 1976 and 1980 Olympics. Comaneci earned the first perfect 10 in gymnastics on the uneven bars as a fearless 14-year-old in Montreal in '76. She earned six more 10s. On Nov. 27, 1989, she defected, hiking six hours through the woods and across the border to Hungary.

* Currently: Comaneci, 30, divides her time between Montreal and Norman, Okla. She is involved in various business pursuits.

Corrections:

"...or the calloused look of a 27-year-old defector..."

28-year-old