Nadia an Inch Taller, About 10G Heavier

New York Times -- October 1977

The littlest of the super stars, Nadia Comaneci, is like any other -woman - she's worried about her weight.

"lt's my secret" the 15-year-old gym-nastics wonder child replied through an interpreter when asked that personal question yesterday.

Romania's 15-year-old Olympic gold medalist stopped in New York briefly to pick up a $10,298 check ($10,000 plus seven months' interest) and a gleaming trophy as the 1976 Woman Athlete of the World.  She said the money would go to the Romanian Gymnastics Federation.

She becomes the second recipient of the Pinch Trophy. presented by Hermon Merinoff, president of Renfield Importers Ltd.  Tennis star Chris Evert won a year ago.

Personal Details

Since this was Nadia's first public interview since she dazzled audiences in Montreal by winning five medals, three of them gold, and scoring seven perfect 10s, everybody was anxious to ask some personal details about the unbelievable sprite of the bars and rings.

"Tell us how much you have grown since last year?" a woman reporter was quick to ask.

Nadia, attired in blue jeans and a red turtleneck sweater, frowned.  She conferred with her interpreter.  Then came the answer.

"She says she has gained four centimeters," the interpreter replied, "but she refuses to say how many kilos."

 Nadia, who stood only 5 feet and weighed 90 pounds at Montreal, now is 1.57 meters (5 feet, 1 inch) and her weight must remain an international mystery.  She looks about five pounds heavier.

Just off an American tour with the teenage Romanian gymnastic team, Nadia visited Washington but did not, as Russia's Ollaa Korbut did a few years before, get to see the President.

After visiting President Nixon, Olga had titilated interviewers by saying, "I thought he was nice, but I liked Disneyland better."

Nadia said her two biggest thrills in the Uiiited States came from seeing Disney World and Sea World.  She also visited the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.

The Romanian gymnasts, who look like a nursery school with three performers age 13, two 14 and one 15, were chaperoned by Bela Karolyi, Nadia's coach, and his wife, Marta.

They gorged themselves on American hot dogs, spent hours in front of their TV sets and went on mad shopping sprees.

But Nadia said her blue jeans came from another country - she declined to say which - and most of the things she is taking back from America are dolls and leather boots.

"Everybody has given her dolls and flowers," a spokesman said.  "She is a camera bug and is loading up on black and white film.  They don't process color film in Romania."

Corrections:

"...the unbelievable sprite of the bars and rings."

Hmmmm, which sport does this writer (not) watch?